WBC NAMES PETALCORIN MANDATORY CHALLENGER TO WBC LT. FLYWEIGHT SILVER CHAMPION RICARDO PEREZ
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 03 May 2016
Petalcorin.
World Boxing Council president Mauricio Sulaiman has informed The Standard that Filipino southpaw Randy ?Razor? Petalcorin who lost a hugely controversial split decision to Australia-based Tanzanian Omari Kimweri last April 15 in Melbourne, Australia, has been named as mandatory contender to WBC Silver light flyweight champion Ricardo Perez of Mexico.
The co-managers of Petalcorin, multi-titled Australian promoter Peter Manbiatis and the youthful president of Sanman Promotions in General Santos City, the hometown of Petalcorin had filed a protest over the decision, citing referee Malcolm Bulner?s failure to count four knockdowns scored by Petalcorin, the appointment of the judges including Bulnber?s wife Samantha as one of the judges and the fact that two rounds were under the stipulated three minutes per round.
However, the WBC failed to comment on the details of the protest but only said ?the bout was extremely competitive, and both boxers showed great courage and will to win. The fight has been considered to be a ?Fight of the Year? candidate. Showing respect for both men, the World Boxing Council has been communicating with both camps, urging mutual respect and good faith, and we are proud of their fair play and ethical response.?
Sulaiman said ?the natural course of action would be to order a rematch. However, both camps have now advised the WBC that their boxers no longer wish to compete in the flyweight division. Kimweri will now campaign at minimumweight while Petalcorin will box at Light Flyweight, rather than stay in the Flyweight division. Both are welcome to continue as proud contenders for the WBC championships, as heroes for their fans and their countries.?
The WBC declared the WBC Silver Flyweight Championship vacant, and both Mr. Kimweri and Mr. Petalcorin earned the highest of merit in their corresponding division. Kimweri is hereby appointed as mandatory contender to minimum silver champion Janiel Rivera, and Petalcorin is hereby appointed mandatory contender to Lightfly Silver Champion Ricardo Perez.
Sulaiman noted that ?boxing is a sport with many alleged controversies, but under its Constitution the WBC has the duty and authority to mediate in controversies whenever and wherever possible, with the goal of making boxing a clean activity, with ethical competition and respect for the rights of everyone involved.?
He said ?the collaboration of the local boxing authorities from Victoria, Australia was exemplary. The review of the specific protests was handled in the highest manner of professionalism by the WBC Ring Officials Committee, and the WBC is deeply appreciative of their efforts as well.?
At the same time Sulaiman told us ?the World Boxing Council would like to provide its most sincere gratitude and congratulations to the honorable representatives of both fighters for the manner in which the protest was resolved, and its best wishes for each boxer as they continue in their careers in the WBC.?
Maniatis who spoke to Sulaiman on Monday night informed us that in a lengthy telephone conversation the WBC president said that he watched a video of the fight and he thinks Petalcorin ?is a massive talent and the WBC wants to work with Randy.?
Maniatis told us the title fight against Perez could happen in Australia and that he would ?talk to his friend and sponsor, international businessman Sean Buckley who has been part of our team for the past 10 years and supports major events? pointing out that Buckley has ?a good friendship with Randy.?
Maniatis disclosed that he had tried to arrange a rematch with Kimweri but ?his team doesn?t want to fight Randy.?
The 24 year old Perez has an impressive record of 8 knockouts in 10 wins with 2 losses. He won the vacant WBC Silver title on August 20, 2015 with a 9th round TKO over 30 year old Noe Medin and followed with a ten round unanimous decision over Mauricio Fuentes who had earlier lost to IBF champion John Reil Casimero by a 1st round knockout in Cebu on May 3, 2014.
The 24 year old southpaw Pwetalcorin has a record of 23-2-1 with 18 knockouts. He won the WBA Interim title with a 7th round TKO over Walter Tello in Shanghai on August 26, 2014 and then won by a spectacular 1st round TKO of Yi Ming Ma in Beijing on April 24, 2015.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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