“The WBC instituted a rule and policy some years ago to have the highest available challengers fight in final elimination bouts to erase any doubt and confirm the highest credibility for the winner to become the official challenger for the world champion.
“To me, the fight between Erik Morales and Manny Pacquiao is at the highest level of world championship fights, as well as the highest level for television and the live gate. On March 19, former light flyweight world champion Jorge Arce will also face Hussein Hussein from Australia, the two best flyweight contenders in the world, with the winner to fight one of the absolute best and most credible world champions, Pongsaklek Wonjongkam, who has made 11 successful defenses of the flyweight world title.
“The WBC has also approved as final elimination bouts Tito Trinidad vs Winky Wright in the middleweight division, and Ricardo Mayorga vs Alex Garcia in the super welterweight division.
“I am very proud that the WBC is having so many fights of this importance and credibility.”
Upcoming World Championship and Final Elimination Fights:
March 19 - Las Vegas, Nevada - WBC International Super Featherweight Championship
Erik Morales (WBC No. 1, 47-2, 34 KOs, Tijuana, Mexico) vs
Manny Pacquiao (WBC No. 3, 39-2-2, 30 KOs, General Santos City, Philippines)
President Sulaiman said, “This fight will confirm the No. 1 ranked official challenger at 130 pounds.”
Plus Flyweight Final Elimination Bout
Jorge Arce (Former light flyweight world champion, 38-3-1, 28 KOs, Los Mochis, Mexico) vs
Hussein Hussein (WBC No. 3, 26-1, 20 KOs, Sydney, Australia)
April 2 - Worcester, Massachusetts - Cruiserweight World Championship
WBC champion Wayne Braithwaite (21-0, 17 KOs, Brooklyn, New York) vs
WBA champion Jean-Marc Mormeck (30-2, 21 KOs, Rosny, France)
April 4 - Osaka, Japan - Strawweight World Championship
Champion Isaac Bustos (24-6-3, 13 KOs, Mexico City, Mexico) vs
Katsunari Takayama (WBC No. 13, 14-1, 7 KOs, Osaka, Japan)
April 9 - El Paso, Texas - Super Featherweight World Championship
Champion Marco Antonio Barrera (59-4, 41 KOs, Mexico City, Mexico) vs
Mzonke Fana (WBC No. 2, 22-2, 8 KOs, Cape Town, South Africa)
May 7 - Las Vegas, Nevada - Lightweight World Championship
WBC champion Jose Luis Castillo (52-6-1, 46 KOs, Mexicali, Mexico) vs
WBO champion Diego Corrales (39-2, 32 KOs, Sacramento, California)
April 16 - Tokyo, Japan - Bantamweight World Championship
Champion Veeraphol Nakhonluang (47-1-2, 33 KOs, Nakhon Ratchaseema, Thailand) vs
Hozumi Hasegawa (WBC No. 4, 17-2, 5 KOs, Hyogo, Japan)
May 14 - Las Vegas, Nevada - Middleweight Final Elimination Bout
Felix Trinidad (WBC No. 1, 42-1, 35 KOs, Cupey Alto, Puerto Rico) vs
Winky Wright (WBC No. 2, 48-3, 25 KOs, St. Petersburg, Florida)
May 21 - Chicago, Illinois - Vacant Light Heavyweight World Championship
Paul Briggs (WBC No. 1, 23-1, 17 KOs, Queensland, Australia) vs
Tomasz Adamek (WBC No. 4, 28-0, 19 KOs, Zywiec, Poland)
Plus Super Welterweight Final Elimination Bout
Ricardo Mayorga (WBC No. 2, 26-5-1, 22 KOs, Managua, Nicaragua) vs
Alex Garcia (WBC No. 15, 23-1, 22 KOs, Tijuana, Mexico)
President Sulaiman said, “The winner of Mayorga-Garcia will fight next for the undisputed super welterweight championship against world champion Francisco Castillejo.”
June 11 - Atlantic City, New Jersey - Super Lightweight World Championship
Champion Arturo Gatti (39-6, 30 KOs, Jersey City, New Jersey) vs
Floyd Mayweather (WBC No. 1, 33-0, 22 KOs, Las Vegas, Nevada)
World Championship Results:
March 11 - Mexico City, Mexico - Vacant Light Flyweight World Championship
Erick Ortiz (24-4-1, 16 KOs, Mexico City, Mexico) TKO7 Jose Antonio Aguirre (33-3-1, 20 KOs, Mexico City, Mexico)
Former Central American and Caribbean light flyweight champion Ortiz gave an impressive performance and won the vacant world title with a TKO victory against former strawweight world champion Aguirre at Restaurante Arroyo. Ortiz was cut over his left eye by an accidental headbutt in the third round, and Aguirre was penalized one point for the foul. Ortiz constantly pressed forward, outworked Aguirre, and wore him down - he staggered Aguirre with a series of punches in the seventh round, and referee Gelasio Perez stopped the fight at 2:47. Aguirre held the WBC strawweight world title from February, 2000, to January, 2004, and made seven successful title defenses.
President Sulaiman said, “The WBC in the last quarter century has been an institution of reform in boxing, with all actions for our athletes. Our medical board recommended the use of electrolyte drinks during the rest periods between rounds of world championship bouts, as our doctors believe that they will be very important to help against dehydration, at least in the second half of boxing matches. I am very proud that their first use in Mexico in this fight was an absolute success. The Ortiz-Aguirre fight was one of the greatest that has been seen recently in Mexico.”
March 12 - Zwickau, Germany - Super Middleweight World Championship
Markus Beyer (32-2, 12 KOs, Eriabrunn, Germany) W12 Danny Green (19-2, 18 KOs, New South Wales, Australia)
Beyer unified the WBC super middleweight title with a majority decision win against interim champion Green in front of an announced crowd of over 4,000 at Stadhalle. Green fought aggressively and several rounds were close, but Beyer boxed effectively and was the more accurate puncher for much of the fight. Green scored a knockdown early in the twelfth round and followed with a furious attack, but Beyer survived the round and won by scores of 114-113, 115-112, 114-114. The referee was Laurence Cole. Beyer, a two-time champion, made his fourth successful title defense overall.
