EDITED PRESS RELEASE: The WBC announced that is has “ratified” the status of the middleweight division. Sergio ?Maravilla? Martinez, the true world middleweight champion, is recognized as WBC Emeritus and Diamond middleweight champion. Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. is the WBC “regular” middleweight championship after controversially taking the title from Sebastian Zbik by unanimous decision on June 4, 2011, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. According to the WBC, “It is anticipated that Chavez and Martinez will meet in the first quarter of 2012 in a sensational showdown in the middleweight division.” Marco Antonio Rubio is the mandatory challenger of the division, and his time for the challenge, as stipulated in the WBC Rules and Regulations, is scheduled to be one year after the last mandatory fight in the division, which was Zbik vs. Chavez. Meanwhile, at 140 pounds, Tim Bradley has been stripped of his title, clearing the way for the WBC’s favorite son, Erik Morales to fight for a vacant title against undeserving challenger Jorge Barrios on September 17th. The 140-pound mandatory challenger will be determined on September 30th when Ali Chebah and Ajose Olusegun tangle.
