WBC RULES CHAVEZ JR MUST FACE MARTINEZ IN MANDATORY TITLE FIGHT
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 18 Dec 2011
The World Boxing Council headed by its president Don Jose Sulaiman has ruled that middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, recognized as the ?Son of the Legend? Julio Cesar Chavez Sr, must face Diamond champion Sergio ?Maravilla? Martinez in a mandatory title defense next year.
The unanimous decision by the WBC was taken after a long session where the mandatory title fights were decided during its 49th Convention at the Mandalay Bay Resort Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Don Jose Sulaiman acted as mediator between both sides and urged them ton remain calm.
The WBC president in a message emailed to the Manila Standard said ?Julio Cesar Chavez Jr is like my godson. I care for him and also for Sergio who has always received my support and the care of the WBC.?
Sulaiman added that the WBC ?has rules and the WBC has taken a decision. Julio will have to face Sergio and show everybody why he is the world champion.? The WBC president said the mandatory title fight is one that fight fans are looking forward to.
The 25 year old Mexican Chavez Jr who has a record of 44-0-1 with 31 knockouts won the title with a majority decision over Sebastian Zbik of Germany last June 4 and then scored an impressive 5th round TKO over Peter Manfredo Jr on November 19, 2011.
The 36 year old Martinez, a southpaw from Argentina won the WBC/WBO title with a twelve round unanimous decision over Kelly Pavlik on April 17, 2010 followed by a spectacular 2nd round knockout of Paul ?The Punisher? Williams on November 20, 2010.
Martinez returned to the ring on March 12, 2011 to win the vacant WBC Diamond belt with an 8th round TKO over Serhiy Dzinziruk of Ukraine, dropping him once in rounds 4 and 5 and three times in round 8 before referee Arthur Mercante Jr called a halt at 1:43 of the round.
In his last title defense Martinez scored an 11th round knockout over Darren Barker of Britain last October 1.
Martinez is ranked No. 3 in Ring Magazine's pounbd for pound list behind Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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