By Mark Vester
According to the latest report in Endi, the WBO has given Antonio Margarito five-days to decide if he's going to exercise his right as the mandatory challenger to welterweight champion Carlos Quintana. If Margarito goes forward with his April 12 rematch with IBF champion Kermit Cintron, he will lose his mandatory position.
Next in line would be Shane Mosley. Should Molsey decline and move forward with a proposed May 31 bout with Zab Judah, he would also lose the mandatory position. The mandatory shot would then fall on British fighter Michael Jennings.
As reported yesterday, Margarito's co-manager, Francisco Espinoza, contacted the WBO to pursue his fighter's mandatory position. Quintana won the WBO title last Saturday after pulling out an upset unanimous decision over Paul Williams in California. The fight contract with Williams had a rematch clause, but according to the WBO, their rules and regulations prohibit immediate rematches unless there is a special circumstance like a controversial decision or a demand placed by a television network.
Editor's Note: Promoter Bob Arum advised me that Kermit Cintron has signed the contract for the Margarito rematch and he's confident the fight will go forward.
