Issues non-binding opinion that Castillejo should still be champ

The Association of Boxing Commissioners has just issued a ruling that the WBC violated its own rules and therefore had no legal basis to strip Javier Castillejo of its junior middleweight championship. Castillejo agreed to defend his title against Fernando Vargas, but the WBC quickly made Ricardo Mayorga the mandatory contender and stripped Castillejo when he elected to go forward with the Vargas bout. Mayorga, a former world welterweight champion, previously declined to fight in an elimination bout but was named as the mandatory anyway based on his recent schedule of tough opponents in four of his last five bouts: Vernon Forrest, Cory Spinks and Felix Trinidad. Mayorga lost to Spinks and Trinidad. According to the ABC's written opinion, "it is inappropriate for a sanctioning organization to anoint a mandatory challenger; instead, such a status must be earned.  Under the rules and regulations of the WBC, status as a mandatory challenger can be earned by way of winning an elimination bout or by being rated as the number one rated challenger and having the Board of Governors either approve, or vote, that number one rated challenger as the mandatory.  Accordingly, the WBC Board of Governors could have approved, or voted, [Oscar] De La Hoya (#1) as the mandatory challenger.  In the alternative, Mr. Mayorga (#2) should have fought Mr. De La Hoya (#1) (the two highest rated boxers in the division) as an elimination bout for the mandatory position.  If Mr. De La Hoya (#1), indeed, is unavailable, Mr. Mayorga (#2) should fight [Michele] Piccirillo (#3) in an elimination bout for the mandatory position.  And finally, if Mr. Piccirillo (#3) is not available, then Mr. Mayorga (#2) should fight Mr. Vargas (#4) in an elimination bout for the mandatory position." However, it must be noted that the ABC's ruling has no binding effect at the moment, so the WBC is not required to reinstate Castillejo.  Still, Vargas' attorney, Patrick English, hopes the sanctioning body will see the light, or more legal action may follow.  "I am still hoping we can convince the WBC to do the right thing [by sanctioning Castillejo-Vargas as a world title bout].  But in the absence of that, I anticipate we will have to go further." REMEMBER WHERE YOU HEARD IT FIRST! (2:05 PM EST)