By Rick Reeno

BoxingScene.com was informed that WBC junior middleweight champion Vernon Forrest (41-3, 29KOs) has until October 14 to make a decision as to whether or not he will fight mandatory/interim-champion Sergio Martinez (44-1, 24KOs). Martinez accepted a step-aside deal for the WBC title to be at stake when Forrest went forward with the Sergio Mora rematch.

Forrest's rematch with Mora took place on September 13, and he dominated the action to reclaim the title. As part of the step-aside agreement with Martinez, Forrest has ten-days from Martinez's fight with Alex Bunema [Oct. 4] to accept the title defense.

Martinez would not be happy if Forrest vacated the title to look for another fight. He would much rather win the belt from the champion. If Forrest declines to make the mandatory defense, Martinez would be elevated to the status of full champion.

"I don't want to win the title like that. I want to win the title by fighting the champion. I don't want this to be like Joel Julio, who turned down an HBO fight with me to go fight in Germany for less money and no [American] television," Martinez said. "Forrest has to make a decision. He has to sh*t or get off the pot."