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Unless a miracle happens, the awaited rematch between Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez will not take place this September as the WBC had planned.
The camp of the Filipino superstar has formally notified the World Boxing Council that it is declining the position of mandatory challenger to reigning super-featherweight champion from
Mike Koncz, the Canadian ring adviser of Pacquiao, said through e-mail that they informed WBC president Jose Sulaiman of their position last Wednesday.
Koncz said the 28-year-old Pacquiao signed the three-paragraph letter asking the WBC to designate another mandatory challenger to Marquez.
“Accordingly, in the same letter signed by Manny we requested that the WBC designate another mandatory challenger for Marquez as stated in the WBC Rules and Regulations,” said Koncz.
After Marquez took the crown from Marco Antonio Barrera in March and Pacquiao defeated Jorge Solis in April, the WBC set a rematch between the two winners on Sept. 15.
The WBC even gave both camps until June 18 to agree to the fight that will even be more exciting that the controversial Pacquiao-Marquez draw in
The failure between Pacquiao’s promoter Top Rank and Marquez’ promoter Golden Boy to set aside their differences may have to do with the decision to forget about the September rematch.
Bob Arum of Top Rank said he was hoping to sit down and talk with Oscar dela Hoya of Golden Boy. But it seems that there’s no common ground for the two parties to work on.
As a result, Pacquiao has decided to look beyond Marquez who, according to Golden Boy, will most likely face Barrera in a rematch, instead of Pacquiao.
The Pinoy icon will now have to choose his next opponent from a list that includes WBO champion Joan Guzman, WBA king Edwin Valero, rising star Humberto Soto or even Barrera.
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