By Miguel Rivera
The decision by Floyd Mayweather Jr. (49-0, 26KOs) to retire from the sport will open up a lot of doors.
Mayweather had what he claims will be his final career fight last Saturday night at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. He won a twelve round unanimous decision over Andre Berto.
World Boxing Council President Mauricio Sulaiman is waiting to receive official notification that Mayweather intends to vacate the titles.
Once that notification is received, Mayweather's WBC world titles at welterweight and junior middleweight will become vacant.
Sulaiman says his organization will pursue one of two options. The first would be a small tournament at 147 and 154. The winners of the respective tournaments will capture the vacant belts.
The other option that Sulaiman will consider, per the advise of the WBC's championship committee, is an order for the two highest ranked contenders, at 147 and 154, to fight each other.
At welterweight, the two highest ranked contenders are Amir Khan [1#] and Danny Garcia [#2]. Neither fighter has a date scheduled in the coming months. Garcia and Khan faced each other in 2012 in a junior welterweight unification which Garcia won by knockout in four rounds.
At junior middleweight, the two highest ranked contenders are Jermell Charlo [#1] and John Jackson [#2]. Both fighters appear to be available at the moment.