MANILA, Philippines – The rights of two Filipino No. 1 contenders to fight for the world crown as mandatory challengers were recently upheld during the 49th WBC Convention in Las Vegas but it took some convincing from their managers on the debate floor to guarantee the title shots.
Gabriel (Bebot) Elorde Jr. batted for No. 1 superflyweight Silvester Lopez of Zamboanga Sibugay while Aljoe Jaro spoke in behalf of No. 1 minimumweight Denver Cuello of Iloilo.
WBC president Jose Sulaiman decreed that WBC superflyweight champion Suriyan Sor Rungvisai may make a voluntary defense before facing Lopez but set a deadline of August for the Filipino?s title crack. The Mexican promotions group Zanfer holds the option on Suriyan?s next defense and may use it to oblige the Thai to stake the title against Tomas Rojas. Suriyan beat Rojas on points to wrest the WBC 105-pound crown in Srisaket last August then repulsed Japanese challenger Nobuo Nashiro in his first defense in Bangkok three months after.
Elorde was prepared to offer a purse bid of $100,000 for Suriyan to stake his title against Lopez in Laoag, Ilocos Norte. If Lopez has to wait until August for his shot, Elorde may arrange a tune-up fight to keep him busy. A juicy offer for a Bangkok date is on the table. Meanwhile, Sulaiman agreed to sanction an eliminator between No. 4 Oleydong Sithsamerchai and No. 2 Carlos Cuadras or No. 3 Yota Sato to determine the next challenger after Lopez.
Sulaiman said Cuello has a last obstacle to hurdle before formalizing his title shot. Cuello was ordered to take on No. 2 Ganigan Lopez of Mexico in a final eliminator to determine the next mandatory challenger. WBC minimumweight champion Kazuto Ioka of Japan will defend his title against Thai Yodgoen Tor Chalermchai in Osaka on Dec. 31. If Ioka wins, he may decide to move up to the lightflyweight division and challenge the winner of the Dec. 23 bout between WBC 108-pound champion Adrian Hernandez and Kompayak Porpramook in Bangkok. In that case, Cuello and Lopez will fight for the vacant throne. If Yodgoen dethrones Ioka, he will be given 90 days to make a voluntary defense and up to August for a mandatory defense.
