By Rick Reeno
In a stunning turn of events, BoxingScene.com has been informed that the WBC has refused to sanction a fight between junior middleweight champion Vernon Forrest (41-3, 29KOs) and contender Charles Whittaker (33-12, 21KOs). Forrest's promoter Gary Shaw had made a request to get persmission from the WBC to stage Forrest-Whittaker on April 25 in the Cayman Islands. The fight would have been televised by Showtime. Whittaker's family is from the Cayman Islands and there was some money to be made for people in the Caymans to see one of their own fighting for a major title.
On Monday, the WBC set a purse bid deadline of March 13 for the mandatory fight between Forrest and interim-champion Sergio Martinez (44-1, 24KOs). The WBC is refusing to sanction anything other than a fight between Forrest and Martinez. There have been numerous purse bid postponements and the sanctioning body feels the fight is long overdue. Shaw has until March 13 to reach a deal with DiBella [Martinez's promoter] or head to a purse bid. If Forrest decides to take any other fight, he will stripped of the title and Martinez will be upgraded to full champion status.
That's not all. A source close to the WBC has told BoxingScene that Jose Sulaiman and the WBC are considering to issue an order that would push up the purse bid deadline.
