By James Blears
World Boxing Council President Jose Sulaiman says that Super Featherweight Champion Juan Manuel Marquez's next defense MUST be against Manny Pacquiao.
During their first classic fight, which wasn't under WBC auspices, Marquez rose like a phoenix from three fiery knockdowns in the opening stanza, to tactically fight on to a draw. But knock on disputes about pay parity and then a spat between rival promoters, has so far nixed the rematch.
Marco Antonio Barrera gained first crack at rematch revenge, but came up short against Manny. Now the WBC is pressing for Manny its Interim Champion, to fight Juan Manuel, it's World Champion.
Don Jose said: "If he (Manny) declines for a third time, then I think he doesn't want to fight Marquez, and we have to go our way. But I believe that Marquez and Pacquiao are willing to fight each other. And it's got to be in the first quarter of 2008, because there are no other television dates for the rest of the year, and they cannot do without the television, because it's a big money fight. So I believe that's going to be a great opportunity at the beginning of the year."
And on a connected theme, Don Jose announced that after the Convention in Manila, the WBC is going to hold two tributes to acknowledge the brilliant careers of Erik Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera. But the events would be done separately. For Erik, the plan is to hold the celebration in his hometown of Tijuana. And for Marco, either Mexico City, where he's originally from, or Guadalajara, which is his current home.
Don Jose acknowledged the bad blood which still exists between the two, who'll be linked forever due to their magnificent thrilogy of ring wars so he concluded: "If they don't like each other, and there is so much controversy between them, I believe that it would be cynicism if we do the ceremony for both at the same time. So definitely the events will be separate."
