Rumor has it that interim WBC lightweight champion Antonio DeMarco (23-1, 17KO) of Tijuana, MX, by way of Los Mochis, will finally have his chance to challenge current WBC full fledged lightweight champion Edwin Valero (25-0, 25KO) as soon as February 6th, 2010. Negotiations are in the works to bring the fight to either Guadalajara or Tijuana, MX, on that date. It was originally reported that Cancun, MX, was in the running but inside sources have stated that at this point, that is not the case.
Valero is scheduled to defend his title next Saturday night in his native Venezuela against another Tijuana fighter, Hector Velazquez. DeMarco was crowned the interim champion when he stopped (first name) Alfaro of Nicaragua in the later rounds this past October.
Although both warriors have fought in the United States in the past, the fight must be made outside the U.S. since Valero was denied an entry visa earlier this year. Valero was scheduled to face Humberto “Zorrita” Soto on the under card of Pacquiao-Cotto but that bout was scratched when Valero was denied entry into the United States.
It was announced by Valero’s team that DeMarco would be his challenger for his December bout but DeMarco and his team which includes the legendary trainer Romulo Quirarte, denied the rumors when they made it public that they didn’t even receive a contract.
It is said that the fight card might be a co-promotion between Gary Shaw Promotions who handle DeMarco’s career and Zanfer Promotions who act as the south of the border arm of Top Rank who Valero fights for.
DeMarco flew back to his adopted hometown of Tijuana earlier this week from Los Mochis, MX where he was spending the holidays, to discuss details for the proposed February 6th bout with his team. DeMarco confirmed exclusively to SDFights.com that a formal announcement might be made as early as this week.
@ Rosco Its not a new rule. Basically, the way it works is that since Valero won the vacant title in April, the WBC rules state that the champion must defend his title within 6 months. Since Valero did not defend his title by the allotted time, they allowed the #1 and #2 ranked lightweight fight for an interim title and to decide who will be the mandatory challenger of Valero. The interim title is a way or the WBC to determine the next challenger as well as give them the opportunity to charge a sanctioning fee for the fight which is the way the boxing organizations make money.
Pretty bad but not as bad as the WBA which is prepared to have two interim featherweight champions. As of right now, the champion is Chris John and the interim champion is Yuriorkis Gamboa while Daniel Ponce De Leon is getting ready to fave Daud Yordan for a second interim title in the same division.
How can DeMarco be an Interim champion ,while Valero is the fullfledged championn..I am confused..Do these corrupt boxing organisations now hav two champions per division..
I am not trying to be a smart ass..could someone please explain this new Interim champion rule
another TKO for Valeroooooooooo
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