Jose Sulaiman, the indefatigable president of the World Boxing Council, doesn?t really mind whether Manny Pacquiao would remain as a super-featherweight or move up as a lightweight.
What?s important, the Mexican boxing icon said, is for Pacquiao to go for a WBC championship and not just the money.
?Boxers should have the freedom or the mentality to do what they think they should do. But it is wrong for boxers to always fight for the money,? said Sulaiman yesterday at the Manila Hotel.
Pacquiao, he said, can either take a shot at WBC super-featherweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez or WBC lightweight champion David Diaz when the Filipino returns to the ring in March.
?I think he has right to choose. Let him decide. If he wants to fight for the lightweight crown it?s here. If he wants to fight for the super-featherweight crown it?s here,? he said.
Sulaiman said Pacquiao will make a lot of money fighting any of these boxers, stressing that the Filipino will ?not make much more money? unless he goes for the WBC belt.
Also looming as Pacquiao?s next opponent is Juan Diaz, the reigning WBA, WBO and IBF lightweight champion.
?It?s really his prerogative. But we (WBC) are the most credible, most respected championship in the world. If he wins the WBC title he will be immortalized forever,? said Sulaiman.
For the last couple of years, Pacquiao has fought big-name opponents in big-money fights while defending the lesser WBC International super-featherweight crown.
He?s been winning, and laughing all the way to the bank.
?There?s nothing more than the WBC (world) belt. And without that crown, yes he may be the best pound-for-pound boxer, but he will not be remembered as a champion 25 years from now,? said Sulaiman.
?He must fight for the world title because if he doesn?t care, nobody will remember him. I don?t know who?s manipulating him. But he has been manipulated.?
Sulaiman, who is in the country for the WBC Convention, said Pacquiao faces no penalty if he decides to go for a different belt other than the WBC, adding that it will be his loss.
?There?s no penalty if he doesn?t want to fight for the WBC crown. But he is punishing himself and not the WBC for not entering his name into the record books.?
