WBC Prez Explains Garcia-Guerrero For Title, Khan, Tournaments

By Victor Salazar 

New York, New York - WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman has come under heavy fire after the sanctioning body announced their WBC tournaments for the welterweight title and super welterweight titles, which were vacated due to last year's retirement of Floyd Mayweather Jr.

The 147-pound title will be on the line when Danny Garcia fights Robert Guerrero next Saturday night in Los Angeles. The 154-pound title will be on the line should a deal happen between Jermell Charlo and John Jackson.

“The welterweight and super welterweight divisions have been inactive for a while because Mayweather was permitted [to hold both titles], [which was] an exception in the rules,” Sulaiman told BoxingScene.com.

“We at the convention invited fighters and promoters to participate in the tourney. We contacted every promoter about the availability of their fighters to fight in the tournament. We received feedback from Lou Dibella, Joe DeGuardia, TGB, Sampson Promotions, Promociciones del Pueblo.”

“We invited the NABF champion from Top Rank and they didn’t respond. Russell Peltz has Ray Robinson in the tournament. So we are confident, this is a new process in determining a new champion and new format for challenges so people can follow the brackets.”

A lot of criticism went in the organization’s decision to sanction Garcia-Guerrero for its 147 pound title. Sulaiman says he wanted to get the process started in determining the divisions champion as soon as he could. The winner has to fight Amir Khan next.

“We are taking a fight that’s happening in 10 days to get the ball rolling with Khan waiting,” Sulaiman said. “You have a fight like Peterson-Berto which is a great fight and nobody can take away anything from that fight. It is clear and consistent which was ruled in the convention.”

“I accept the critics. We invited everybody and we took those who contacted us and how we formatted the brackets. It was open since November. You will see fighters fighting each other to become mandatories”

Sulaiman also points out that Khan, who has been a mandatory for the belt, will be involved in a big fight should he decide to to take a pass on Kell Brook.

“Garcia signed to fight Guerrero, Khan has been searching for a big fight for years, against Mayweather, against Pacquiao and against Kell Brook. So this fight is going to be for the championship and then the winner must fight Amir Khan if he elects to go that route. He can either fight Kell Brook or fight the winner of Jan 23rd.”