WBC Prez Admits Tough Spot - if Mayweather, Khan Target Garcia

By Rick Reeno

MGM Grand, Las Vegas - World Boxing Council President Mauricio Sulaiman may find himself in a very tough position if Floyd Mayweather Jr. (49-0, 26KOs) and Amir Khan (31-3, 19KOs) simultaneously target WBC welterweight champion Danny Garcia.

Mayweather, who retired last September, is mulling the possibility of a year-end return. Following his retirement, the WBC named him 'Champion Emeritus' - a sanctioning body status which allows Mayweather - if and when he returns to the sport - to receive an immediate shot at the current WBC champion. When Mayweather retired he was the WBC champion at welterweight and junior middleweight - so technically he can return to a title fight in either weight class. According to many in the industry, Garcia is a likely candidate to face a comebacking Mayweather.

This coming Saturday night at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Khan will challenge Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez for the WBC middleweight title. Despite Khan's decision to move up by two weight classes, the WBC will allow him - win, lose or draw - to retain his standing as the mandatory challenger to Garcia's WBC belt.

Things could get interesting in the next couple of months. If Mayweather announces his return and executes his Emeritus clause for a shot at Garcia, and Khan decides to move back to the welterweight division for a mandatory shot at Garcia - who will WBC side with?

"It is so difficult to rule with so many variables. I would feel irresponsible to render an opinion. So many things have to happen for this scenario to show up. I would prefer not to speculate," Sulaiman told BoxingScene.com.

"It's not very typical [with Mayweather's status]. There have been very few Emeritus champions and this Amir Khan situation is not normal, [because] he is moving up by two weights - so the WBC also recognizes his mandatory status at welterweight. There are so many things in the mix [in this situation]. We would have to deal with them when they come."

Khan and Mayweather [and Garcia] are advised by Al Haymon. At the same time, Khan despises Mayweather for rejecting him as an opponent for the last two years, so Khan is certainly not going to do any favors for him.

The WBC had an identical scenario in the heavyweight division in 2007. Oleg Maskaev was the WBC world champion. Samuel Peter, who won 'two' final eliminators with James Toney, was the mandatory challenger. But then Vitali Klitrschko - the WBC's Emeritus champion - announced his return to the ring after four years in retirement.

Upon returning, Klitschko immediately targeted a shot at Maskaev, and the WBC was willing to sanction the fight. It didn't take long before the legal papers were flying and all involved parties were in litigation. At a legally-binding arbitration, everyone reached an agreement where Peter would get first crack at Maskaev and then the winner was bound to make an immediate mandatory defense against Klitschko. Peter knocked out Maskaev to capture the belt and then Klitschko knocked out Peter.

Because of the possibility that a legal situation might arise, Sulaiman feels it's better to stay in background until both boxers officially announce their intention to fight Garcia. 

"That's why it's so difficult for me to say something, because it could be inaccurate, it could be irresponsible. Mayweather would have to decide to come back to boxing. Amir Khan is fighting [on Saturday night]. What I can say is that both are highly regarded in the WBC and we'll look into it immediately [if the scenario happens]," Sulaiman said.