Press Release: The 2007 WBC Convention in Manila continued yesterday and during the afternoon session, the mandatory defenses and final elimination bouts were voted by the WBC Board of Governors.
 
In the heavyweight division, Vitali Klitschko was confirmed as the next mandatory challenger to face the winner of the fight on February 3, 2008 between WBC champion Oleg Maskaev and WBC interim titlist Samuel Peter.
 
All three fighters are required to file with the WBC, a medical examination performed by a WBC approved physician. Several scenarios were discussed in the case that injuries would prevent any of these matches from taking place.
 
Manny Pacquiao has been confirmed as the mandatory contender for WBC Super Featherweight Champion Juan Manuel Marquez.
 
A direct rematch has been ordered between WBC Interim Lightweight Champion Joel Casamayor and Jose Armando Santa Cruz after their very controversial split decision of November 10.
 
WBC Light Heavyweight Champion Chad Dawson must mount a voluntary defense by January 25, 2008 while Adrian Diaconu remains the mandatory challenger of the division.
 
Carl Froch and Dennis Inkin were ordered to fight in a final elimination bout to determine the mandatory challenger for the super middleweight division.
 
Sergio Martinez was ratified as the mandatory challenger in the Super Welterweight division.
 
A final elimination bout between Timothy Bradley and Jose Luis Castillo has been ordered to find the mandatory contender in the super lightweight division.
 
Hector Velazquez and Elio Rojas must fight each other to determine the mandatory contender in the featherweight division.
 
Promoter Gary Shaw must provide signed contracts for the rubber match between WBC Super Bantamweight Champion Israel Vazquez and former champion Rafael Marquez. The mandatory challenger for the super bantamweight division is Napapol Kiatisakchokchai.
 
Verapol Nahkoluang has been ordered to fight Vusi Malinga in a final elimination bout for the mandatory spot in the bantamweight division.
 
A fight between Jorge Arce and Martin Castillo has been confirmed as a final elimination bout in the super flyweight division.
 
Omar Nino will fight Juanito Rubillar as a  final elimination bout in the light flyweight division.
 
OTHER NEWS:
 
Yesterday was a very active day at the 45th annual WBC convention in Manila. Some of the resolutions of the day include:
 
Manny Pacquiao has been awarded the Emeritus Championship during a very emotive ceremony last night and joins the following WBC Emeritus Champions:
 
Konstantin "Kostya" Tszyu
Erik Morales
Lennox Lewis
Vitali Klitschko
Bernard Hopkins
Floyd Mayweather
 
The WBC has decided to include a Boxer's Representative in the Board of Governors to represent the interests of boxers and former boxers. Former three weight world champion Jeff Fenech was unanimously selected as the first Boxer's Representative. 
 
Don Majeski was selected as the Manager's Representative in the Board of Governors, joining Salvatore Cherchi who was voted in two years ago as the Promoter's Representative.
 
A new list of levels for boxers will be created during the upcoming year, to be implemented in 2009. All boxers in the world will be placed in a level, or bracket, according to their current abilities with consideration of such factors as:
 
Amateur careers
Number of professional fights
Number of rounds fought
Record
Style
Latest results
 
This categorization of boxers is intended to match fighters with opponents in the same level and avoid mismatches that are dangerous for the health of boxers and many times, unfair to the public.