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WBC names Manny Pacquiao the No.1 contender to Floyd Mayweather’s welterweight title


Manny Pacquiao became the number one contender to Floyd Mayweather’s World Boxing Council welterweight title, but it is still not clear when, if ever, the two will ever face off inside the ring.

Pacquiao is coming off a win over Brandon Rios late in November, when he claimed the World Boxing Organization international welterweight title.

However, because Mayweather just won the WBC light middleweight belt off Saul Alvarez when the two fought last September, he does not automatically have to face the number one contender, as he has the ability to choose his next opponent. After that, Mayweather can choose to first defend the light middleweight belt instead of the welterweight title, further delaying any prospective fight.

Also complicating matters is the fact that the two boxers currently are on separate networks, with Mayweather fighting for Showtime and Pacquiao for HBO.

The two camps have also made many attempts in the past to put together a fight, but after the Filipino Pacquiao agreed to Mayweather’s style of strenuous blood testing, money became the sticking point, especially with regards to how the PPV revenue would be distributed.

The undefeated Mayweather returns to the ring on May 5, likely against Amir Khan, while Pacquiao boxes anew on April 12, versus either Timothy Bradley or Juan Manuel Marquez. - AMD, GMA News

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