THE Mexico-based World Boxing Council (WBC) has rated Manny Pacquiao as its No. 3 contender in the super-featherweight division following the release of its latest rankings.
Eight other Filipinos were listed in the January 2005 rankings released yesterday.
The decision to rank Pacquiao in the top ten stems from the fact that the heavy-handed Filipino southpaw is set to battle Mexican Erik Morales on March 19 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
The winner of the Pacquiao-Morales showdown is expected to get a crack at the WBC 130-lb throne being held now by Mexican Marco Antonio Barrera, who is scheduled to make a mandatory defense against Mzonke Fana of South Africa on April 9 in El Paso, Texas, or Mexico City.
Morales, who yielded the title to Barrera late last year, is rated No. 1, while Fana is No. 2. The South African became the mandatory challenger after beating Filipino Randy Suico last year.
Now, Suico is rated No. 4, and remains in the thick of the fight in the division?s round-robin. Suico is the reigning Orient-Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) titleholder in the division.
Also making the grade in their respective weight classes include welter Rev Santillan, who came in at No. 6 in the 147-lb category manned by Zab Judah. Santillan is also an OPBF champion.
Dennis Laurente, the OPBF lightweight titlist of the Johnny Elorde Stable, is at No. 7 and is itching to get a crack at the crown of Mexican Jose Luis Castillo.
Flyweight Diosdado Gabi is sixth in the flyweight class ruled by Pongsaklek Wonjongkam of Thailand, while two-time challenger Juanito Rubillar is third in the soon-to-be-vacated light-fly class.
OPBF minimum- weight ruler Rodel Mayol is No. 2, while Eriberto Gejon is No. 3 and Arman dela Cruz is No. 8 in the 105-lb class. The reigning champion in this weight category is Isaac Bustos of Mexico.
