Sulaiman Urges Compromise Over Pacquiao
By James Blears
WBC Boss Jose Sulaiman is appealing to Top Rank and Golden Boy Promotions, to bury the hatchet over the Manny Pacquiao controversy…but not in each other!
Unless some sort of practical compromise can be worked out, the disagreement between the two, could complicate negotiations for the much anticiplated re-match between “Three Tumbles” Juan Manuel Marquez and “Pacman” Manny Pacquiao. Marquez is with Golden Boy and Manny is with Top Rank.
But as Don Jose explained: “the problem is that Manny signed (contracts) with both (promoters), and now this is more a court than a boxing matter. That is what the problem is. But they cannot continue like this.”
Don Jose is urging the two promotional companies to try and look at the bigger picture concerning this issue.
He suggested: “I send the message of peace. I send the message, to put aside their misunderstandings, and to try and do something that is good for them as promoters and for Boxing. They are definitely NOT looking at the bigger picture today.”
Juan Manuel Marquez is the WBC’s Super Featherweight Champion, after defeating countryman Marco Antonio Barrera. While Manny Pacquiao, the WBC’s International Champion, is also the number one official challenger to Marquez’s crown.
The WBC has agreed to give Manny six months of grace to follow his political aspirations, and Don Jose says he’s hoping the two can fight again by the end of this year, or at the beginning of 2008.
Don Jose also hinted that the world of politics can be fraught with painful pitfalls and he’s encouraging Manny to defend himself at all times!
He commented: “I would say that Manny would have to understand the rules of politics. I believe the boxing belt line which is situated at the navel, will have to go much, much lower perhaps to the legs…or even the ankles!”