Johan Perez 139.5 vs. Pablo Cesar Cano 140
(WBA interim super lightweight title)
Jorge Romero 135.4 vs. Rudy Lopez 135.8
Jose Cotto 140 vs. Manuel Perez 135.8
Venue: Grand Oasis Cancun in Cancun, Mexico
Promoter: Golden Boy/Pepe Gomez
TV: Fox Deportes
Lots of drama behind the scenes in advance of tonight’s WBA interim world super lightweight title clash between Venezuelan champion Johan “Terrible” Perez and Mexican challenger Paul “El Demoledor” Cano, to be held at the Grand Oasis Cancun Hotel. The WBA Championships Committee made a decision not to sanction the world title fight because the WBC Latin title was in the same division was also on the line. According to a source, WBA Vice President and Director of the Championships Committee Gilberto Jesus Mendoza informed the promoters that the WBA had made a firm decision not to sanction Perez-Cano. He asked that for the welfare of world boxing that WBC Latino title be removed as this has nothing to do with a world title and discredits the world championship status of the fight. On Thursday night the situation was resolved and it was confirmed that only the WBA world title will be at stake, as was initially the case when the contracts were signed for this fight.
“Fortunately all the misunderstandings were overcome and (the WBC) reaffirmed that wise decisions remain in effect our sport,” said Mendoza Jr. from Panama City.
In a related issue, the WBC wanted to put a Mexican judge since it was for the Latino belt. “This is also resolved,” said Mendoza Jr. “The judges of the fight will be all from neutral countries to the fighters. Hubert Earle (Canada), Guillermo Perez (Panama) and Cesar Ramos (Puerto Rico). The referee Luis Pabon is Puerto Rican.”
