By Lem Satterfield
Unbeaten middleweight prospect David Lemieux (26-0, 24KOs), of Canada, will face Marco Antonio Rubio (49-5-1, 42KOs), of Mexico, in an April 8, WBC eliminator at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
A few days ago, the WBC made Sergio Martinez the Emeritus Champion, which essentially strips the Argentinian-born fighter of the official crown. In addition, the WBC elevated Sebastian Zbik (30-0, 10 KOs) to the status of full champion and mandated that Zbik face Julio Cesar Chavez (41-0-1, 30 KOs) in his first defense.
According to matchmaker Sean Gibbons of Zanfer promotions, which co-promotes Chavez with Top Rank Promotions, Zbik-Chavez could take place on May 14, or, May 21, likely in Toluca, Mex. The WBC has given the Zbik-Chavez winner the leeway to make one optional defense prior to facing Lemieux.
"Look, we'll see what happens. Zbik and Chavez are scheduled to fight in May, so, Lemieux is fighting against Rubio in April," said Yvon Michel, the promoter of Lemieux. "What the WBC has told us is that the winner of Zbik-Chavez can do an optional, which could be [Sergio] Martinez or someone else. But we're next in line after that."
Lem Satterfield is the boxing editor at AOL FanHouse and the news editor at BoxingScene.com. To read more from Lem Satterfield, go to AOL FanHouse by Clicking Here.
