WBC CLARIFIES ITS POSITION ON CHAVEZ-MARTINEZ TITLE FIGHT
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 06 Jan 2012
After some uncertainty over the situation in the middleweight divisi?n following the formal press conference held by Top Rank promotions announcing the February 4 title defense of Julio Cesar Chavez Jr against Marco Antonio Rubio, the No.1 contender, the WBC has clarified its position on the previously announced mandatory defense of Chavez Jr vs Diamond belt champion Sergio Martinez.
In a statement the WBC said it has approved the Chavez-Martinez bout if both fighters win their respective bouts.
Martinez is scheduled to face Mathew Macklin on March 15. The 36 year old Argentine, "Maravilla" Martinez is a southpaw with a record of 48-2-2 with 27 knockouts and is coming off a 11th round knockout of Britain's Darren Barker on October 1, 2011 in a diamond belt defense.
The 29 year old British fighter "Mack the Knife" Macklin has a record of 28-3 with 19 knockouts and lost his last fight by a split decision to Felix Sturm of Germany in a WBA title fight on June 25, 2011. Chavez Jr, known as the "Son of the Legend" Cesar Chavez Sr is 25 years old and is undefeated with a record of 44-0-1 with 31 knockouts and won by an impressive 5th round TKO over Peter Manfredo Jr in his last fight on November 19, 2011.
31 year old Marco Antonio Rubio has a record of 53-5-1 with 46 knockouts and is known for his punching power. He won his last fight on December 16, 2011 by a 5th round TKO over Matt Vanda who gave Chavez Jr a hard time in their first meeting but in the rematch Chavez Jr dominated Vanda.
The WBC had earlier allowed both Chavez Jr and Martinez to go throughg with their scheduled bouts provided the winners meet in their next bout, for the title.
The World Boxing Council said it ? unanimously approved that the WBC middleweight champion of the world Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr should defend mandatorily against Sergio Martinez, but leaving open an opportunity for both parties to agree as Both had TV dates already reserved, Chavez on February 4th and Martinez on March 15th.?
The WBC said that since ?No news of any agreement was received at the WBC offices and per virtue of February 4th being a month away, and March 15th about two months away, The Board of Governors of the WBC has ruled to accept both engagements according to the rules, but with the indication that the winner and WBC champion after the 4th of February must defend mandatorily against Martinez, if he wins over Mathew Macklin, classified in the past Convention by request of Mr. Lou DiBella.?
The WBC offices will be waiting the requests in writing to approve the bouts.
The rule 2.1 says:
2.1 WBC Approval of WBC Championship and Elimination Bouts. All promoters must request in writing the approval by the WBC of any WBC-sanctioned championship, elimination, or qualifying bouts. No bout shall be considered as officially sanctioned by the WBC unless the promoter has received the written approval of the WBC Presidency, and complies fully with all terms and conditions of the sanction, including payment of all required fees, and compliance with these Rules and Regulations.
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