In a statement on their website, the World Boxing Organization (WBO) has officially removed Juan Manuel Marquez as its lightweight World Champion and promoted Scotland’s Ricky Burns from Interim Champion to World Champion.
Marquez, who won the vacant title (along with the vacant WBA lightweight title) against Juan Diaz in 2009, agreed to vacate his lightweight title and move up to the welterweight division on the condition he be ranked the #1 contender for Manny Pacquiao’s WBO welterweight title.
Burns becomes a two-time World Champion with the WBO’s promotion. He previously won the WBO jr. lightweight title in a thrilling twelve-round brawl with Rocky Martinez in September of 2010. Last November he won a wide points victory over Michael Katsidis to claim the vacant “Interim” WBO lightweight title.
Update: After conversations with WBO President Franciso Valcarcel, Marquez announced he still holds the title of “Super Champion” in the WBO’s lightweight division.
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