Expect Manny Pacquiao to be doubly motivated when he goes up against Erik Morales in their keenly-awaited rematch on Jan. 21 next year.
The World Boxing Council on Friday ruled that the winner of the Morales-Pacquiao rematch will be made the mandatory challenger to WBC super-featherweight champion Marco Antonio Barrera, the Mexican legend whom Pacquiao demolished in 2003 to gain worldwide recognition.
WBC president Jose Sulaiman, following a meeting with his Board of Governors which included Games and Amusement Board chairman Eric Buhain in the WBC annual convention in Spain, has mandated Barrera to face the winner between No. 1 ranked Morales and No. 2 Pacquiao in their rematch set at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas.
In the same meeting, the WBC also ruled that newly-crowned WBC light flyweight champ Brian Viloria should face compatriot Juanito Rubillar in his next fight, and the winner should defend against Thai Wandee Singwancha.
Pacquiao stepped up his buildup for a rematch with Morales by stopping another Mexican Hector Velazquez in the sixth round in the undercard of the Morales-Zahir Raheem clash. Although Morales lost his first crack in the lightweight division, promoters of the Pacquiao-Morales rematch still decided to honor their earlier commitment to re-stage the fight early next year.
The loss to Raheem prompted Morales to return to the super-featherweight division.
Pacquiao is currently in the US to cheer and lend support to younger brother Bobby, who is set to see action against US-based El Salvadoran Carlos “El Famoso” Hernandez this Sunday underneath the Diego Corrales-Jose Luis Castillo rematch card.
Pacquiao is set to return to the country right after his brother’s fight, and is slated to immediately buckle down to training for his bout with Morales.
Pacquiao has been more than willing to give Barrera a rematch since beating him with a stunning 11th round knockout at the Alamodome two years ago. But the Mexican fighter, who blamed his loss to a number of reasons but Pacquiao’s power, opted not to dare take another chance, perhaps worried of another humiliation from the fiery Filipino southpaw.
But with the WBC mandating Barrera to fight the winner of the Pacquiao-Morales rematch, things could go up indeed for Pacquiao in 2006.
