The World Boxing Council has finally made a move and demoted Floyd Mayweather Jr. (49-0, 26 KOs) to WBC “Emeritus” 147 and 154lb champion.
The WBC met for their Emanuel convention and made the move in vacating the 38-year-old Mayweather’s two titles with the organization.
Mayweather gave the WBC no choice but to make the move after he said he was retiring and not coming back to the sport after his farewell fight against Andre Berto on September 12.
What made things confusing is that Mayweather didn’t officially vacate the titles, which gave some boxing fans the impression that he would come back in 2016 or at some time in the future to resume defending his titles.
“The titles are vacated. He [Mayweather] is Emeritus champion,” WBC President, Mauricio Suliaman, said via ESPN Desportes. “It’s official. We gave him time to make this official presentation here at the Convention. We are proud to do it this way. He is a champion for eternity with the WBC and he knows this is his family. We are celebrating one of the greatest. If he leaves and comes back. It is secondary. I would not want to speculate,” Suliaman said.
Suliaman didn’t say who will be challenging for Mayweather’s two WBC titles at 147 and 154.
Amir Khan is ranked #1 WBC and Danny Garcia #2 WBC.
But it looks like Khan is about to fight Manny Pacquiao in April of next year.
It wouldn’t be surprising at all if the WBC put their WBC 147lb title on the line for that fight if it takes place.
Garcia would be out of luck if that happens.
It’s unclear whether he was hoping to fight for the WBC 147lb title or not, or if he merely moved up in weight to welterweight in order to get a big payday.
At 154, Jermell Charlo is ranked #1 WBC and John Jackson #2 WBC.
This could work out perfectly for Charlo and Jackson, because Charlo says he’s interested in fighting Jackson in December.
The WBC could then put their WBC 154lb title on the line for that fight.
Suliaman did the right thing in stripping Mayweather and demoting him to WBC Emeritus Champion.
It’s just surprising that he didn’t make the move sooner like the WBO did after Mayweather started talking retirement.