By Rey Danseco
 
THE WBC will not hesitate to replace Manny Pacquiao as Marco Antonio Barrera’s mandatory challenger if he refuses to officially declare his intention to honor the order of the organization.

The very respected WBC president Jose Sulaiman told to this writer in an interview yesterday that they are forced to follow the rules, particularly after Barrera relayed his interest for the rematch with his WBC super featherweight title at stake.
 
“The WBC will follow strictly its rules. If the challenger (Pacquiao) refuses, as the champion (Barrera) has already accepted, the WBC will select the highest available challenger next,” said Sulaiman, whose office is located in Mexico City.

Erik Morales, is ranked number two by the WBC, another Mexican fighter Javier Jauregui is the third ranked contender.

Pacquiao is eager to give Barrera a return bout. But not after his desired tune up fight that was booked to take place on either June 18 or July 2 at the Araneta Coliseum – venue of “Ali-Frazier Thrilla in Manila” -- against any formidable foe if former WBC super bantamweight king Oscar Larios does not make the fight.

However, Sulaiman gives Team Pacquiao a week to officially declare whether he honors the mandate or declines the rematch.

“We are waiting to know if Pacquiao takes the fight or not,” said Sulaiman. “Barrera already said yes (to fight Pacquiao).”

Sulaiman said, Barrera’s mandatory title defense would likely fall on Pacquiao’s target date for tune-up fight in June or July after the WBC went in the due process of the free negotiations period or purse bidding if necessary.

“We would order the free negotiations period which is 30 days, and if no agreement is reached, a purse offer must take place 15 days later, and the fight within 90 days after the biddings,” he said.

Pacquiao gained the No. 1 ranking and the right for the mandatory shot on Barrera’s title after his fine victory over Morales on Jan. 18 at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.

Sulaiman added that Larios’ people advised them that the Manila bout is off as they are thinking the political stability in the island is getting worse.

“It seems that Larios is off due to the present apparent instability to promote the fight in the Philippines,” said Sulaiman, who learned to this writer that Manila is not in turmoil like everyone seems to think.

“I am so happy to know of the stability of the Philippines. Some one involved in the Pacquiao fight with Larios is fooling us. It was from them that we were told that the fight with Larios was cancelled. I did not hear it from any one else.”

The WBC president believes it would be a wrong decision if Pacquiao were to snub the offer.

“Then, perhaps the people directing Manny don’t want him to fight Barrera which would be a very foolish step. People think of the WBC championships as the premier titles in the world, and he KO’d the champion Barrera. He would be pushing away the WBC title and the millions of dollars involved. I don’t really know hat are the thoughts of some boxers,” he said.