Sulaiman says Marquez is the real test for Barrera and Pacquiao

By James Blears

“Pacquiao and Barrera cannot feel they are the best until the moment that they defeat Marquez! If they don’t defeat him, they can never say they are the best.”

This the testament according to WBC President Jose Sulaiman. And the facts speak for themselves. Marquez got up three times to box Manny to a draw and he then outpointed Marco.

But Don Jose confirmed that Manny who was supposed to fight Juan Manuel next, but will be fighting Marco, will nevertheless retain his number one challenger spot in the June ratings.

Don Jose said: “It was an agreement between the parties including the promoter of Marquez. And if we would bring down both boxers it would look bad and unreal. So we got to have in the ratings, the very best in each position that they think they belong to.”

However he’s fretting about Marquez’s next possible opponent Jorge Barrios who’s lost a title on the scales not so long ago. He commented: “We are very seriously watching this match with a lot of concern.”

Meanwhile Floyd Mayweather Jr is set to officially announce he’ll renounce the WBC junior middleweight title and keep the sanctioning body's welterweight version. That’s the expected scenario.

Vernon Forrest vs. Carlos Baldomir, on for June 28, has already been approved by the WBC as being for the Interim Championship, but when Floyd officially relinquishes his 154-pound belt, this fight will automatically become for an official fight for the vacant title.