Mayorga and Piccirillo to fight for green belt?

By Scott Shaffer

02/06/2005

Mayorga and Piccirillo to fight for green belt?

The WBC announced yesterday that with Javier Castillejo now officially stripped of its 154-pound title for signing to fight Fernando Vargas, the two leading available contenders will vie to succeed Castillejo as the wearer of the WBC's green belt. Although Oscar De La Hoya is rated number one, a realistic view of the ratings indicates that #2 Ricardo Mayorga and #3 Michele Piccirillo is the more likely scenario. Both men are former champions in the welterweight category, Mayorga having defeated Vernon Forrest for the true world championship, while Piccirillo briefly held the IBF title courtesy of an atrocious decision in his favor against Cory Spinks. Mayorga was named the mandatory contender for Castillejo, whose decision to face Vargas was what prompted the WBC's stripping.