Manny Pacquiao, raring to re-stake his claim as the world’s best fighter in the 130-lb division, on Friday confirmed his acceptance as mandatory challenger to newly crowned WBC (World Boxing Council) super featherweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez.
Rex “Wakee” Salud, Pacquiao’s long-time confidant, said Pacquiao had authorized him to accept the designation as mandatory challenger in response to WBC president Jose Sulaiman’s letter asking the Filipino boxing icon “to confirm in writing his eligibility and acceptance or denial for the mandatory contender position.”
Marquez, who rose from three knockdowns in the first round to force a draw with Pacquiao in their showdown in 2004, wrested the WBC belt from Mexican legend Marco Antonio Barrera with a unanimous decision in their classic showdown last week in Las Vegas.
After the fight, Marquez had hinted at giving Barrera another crack at the crown in a rematch, which HBO promptly scheduled in September in the week of the Mexican Independence Day. But Sulaiman announced that under WBC rules, Marquez will have to defend the title against the No. 1 contender, which is Pacquiao.
The 28-year-old Gen. Santos native is currently in the thick of preparations for this fight against unheralded but unbeaten Jorge Solis, also of Mexico, on April 14 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.
In his letter, Sulaiman said the WBC had previously designated Pacquiao as mandatory contender to the title then held by Barrera. However, with the victory of Marquez over Barrera, the WBC asked Pacquiao whether he would accept being mandatory contender and wanted a response by 6 p.m. (Mexico time) March 23.
Sulaiman also wished Pacquiao the best of luck in his fight against Solis.
Marquez earlier said he wanted a rematch with Pacquiao, claiming that the result of their first meeting was a thorn he wanted to remove.
Pacquiao himself has indicated he was looking forward to a rematch to prove, once and for all, that he deserved to be declared the champion.
However, the problem in the Pacquiao-Marquez rematch remains the legal dispute between Golden Boy Promotions with whom Pacquiao signed a seven-fight contract in mid-September last year and Top Rank Promotions, which signed him to a four-fight deal some two months later.
