Sergio Mora's Time Running Out, Forrest or Martinez

By Rick Reeno

The clock is ticking for WBC junior middleweight champion Sergio Mora (21-0, 5KOs). There are two doors in front of him and he needs to choose one of them before a July deadline. The first door is a rematch with Vernon Forrest (40-3, 29KOs), who Mora upset in June for the title. Behind the other door is WBC mandatory challanger Sergio "Maravilla" Martinez (43-1, 23KOs).

Mora has a dilemma. There was a rematch clause in his fight contract with Forrest. That clause has been exercised by Vernon and Mora is contractually bound to fight him next - with or without the title. The WBC set a mandate for the winner of Forrest-Mora to face Martinez next. A purse bid for Mora-Martinez has been scheduled for July 25.

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BoxingScene.com has learned that Mora sent a letter to the WBC disputing his mandatory obligation to face Martinez. Mora argues that he still has a year to make his mandatory defense. Martinez won a WBC eliminator last year. According to the WBC rules, Forrest's obligation to face Martinez was inherited by Mora.

I know that Forrest, based on several conversations, is not willing to step aside.

"We have September for the rematch. It's mandatory. There was a rematch clause and I have an ironclad contract. He can't fight nobody else. He has to fight me in September. If he tries to fight someone else, his next fight will be in a court room," Forrest told BoxingScene a few weeks ago. "He has to fight me next whether he has the title or not. He has to fight me in September."

Martinez, who waited a long time to land a major title shot, is also not willing to step aside. Sampson Lewkowicz represents Martined and advised BoxingScene that Mora should give up the title if he doesn't plan to fight Martinez because the WBC will strip him after July 25.

"We have a July 25th purse bid. Jeff Wald [promoter], let your champion give up the title with dignity. The only way he will keep the title is if he fights and beats Sergio "Maravilla" Martinez. If he doesn't plan to fight Martinez he should give up the title before the 25th with dignity because after that he will get stipped," Lewkowicz said.