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WBO puts lightweight title up for grabs between Marquez and Diaz

From Dan Rafael's Notebook.

Despite the best efforts of Frank Warren and Don King, the vacant WBO lightweight title will not be decided on March 14 between Amir Khan and Marco Antonio Barrera. Instead, it will be decided much more fittingly on February 28 between lineal champion Juan Manuel Marquez and top challenger Juan Diaz.

Marquez-Diaz is basically best case scenario. With Campbell out of the division and Pacquiao never coming back to 135, we're talking the two best fighters that the class has to offer. The WBO made a just decision with this one. Khan-Barrera, which pits two top ten ranked WBO contenders (laughably so), would have been technically acceptable, but I think even the body knows that it would've gotten some lame press for that one.

So for the moment, kudos to the WBO.

UPDATE:

The vacant WBA "super championship" will be on the line, too, according to a Golden Boy press release. The WBA's super and regular titles are among the stupidest things in boxing. Paulus Moses holds the WBA "regular" title.

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