By Rick Reeno
Legal papers will begin to fly if WBC junior middleweight champion Sergio Mora moves forward with a discussed pay-per-view bout against Shane Mosley on October 11 at the Staples Center in California. Mora won his first major title last Saturday at the Mohegan Sun when he pulled off a majority decision over Forrest. There was an immediate rematch clause in the contract and Forrest exercised the clause.
According to Forrest, the contract prevents Mora from facing another fight prior to their rematch, and it doesn't even matter if Mora still holds the title. Golden Boy Promotions is having discussions with Jeff Wald (promoter of Mora) to secure his fighter for Mosley's October PPV date.
Forrest tells MaxBoxing/BoxingScene.com that he's unwilling to take a step aside fee.
"It's not going to happen. They could try, but it won't happen. It's not about money. It's about principles and it's about my fans. I owe it to my fans. Mora ain't fighting nobody but Vernon Forrest in September. There will be no step aside and no payoff. There is only going be a fight - me and Mora in September. That's the only fight that Mora will see next," Forrest said.
Even if a miracle took place and Forrest took some cash to step aside, Mora was recently mandated by the WBC to defend the title against Sergio Martinez. The sanctioning body wants them to begin negoiations on an immediate basis with no delays. Martinez's promoter, Lou DiBella, has indicated that he would move for Mora to be stripped of the title if the Mosley fight went forward.