Mauricio Sulaiman honored his promise to find justice from a controversial decision involving one of his sanctioning body titles.
The Ring has learned that the WBC has ordered an immediate rematch between defending junior flyweight titlist Panya Pradabsri and Carlos Cañizales. The order was handed down on Saturday, with the two sides given until Feb. 18 to reach a deal and avoid a purse bid hearing.
As per WBC ordered fights, purse bids are scheduled in advance to take place on the expiration date of the negotiation period. The practice allows for minimal delays in advancing such fights.
Thailand’s Pradabsri (44-2, 27 KOs) was awarded a highly questionable majority decision over Venezuela’s Cañizales (27-3-1, 19 KOs) on Dec. 27 in Pradabsri’s Bangkok hometown. Pradabsri claimed the vacant WBC 108-pound title to become a two-division titlist that day, though it was met with immediate outrage.
Sulaiman was among those displeased with the decision, which stained a terrific action fight.
“I am disappointed at the performance of the WBC judges in specific rounds,” the longtime WBC president stated immediately after the fight. “I will order an immediate review by the corresponding committee.”
That review led to a decision by the WBC Board of Governors to run it back.
The horrific decision met this publication’s criteria regarding robberies, to where Cañizales not only remained in the top ten but advanced one spot to The Ring’s No. 4 junior flyweight. Pradabsri was left out of the top ten; additionally, the former WBC 105-poundt titlist lost his place in The Ring’s strawweight ratings.
The belt was made available after former RING/WBA/WBC junior flyweight champ Kenshiro Teraji (24-1, 15 KOs) stepped down from his throne last summer. Teraji moved up to flyweight, where he is now The Ring’s No. 2 contender and currently holds the WBC title at that weight.
Jake Donovan is part of the U.S. team for The Ring. Follow Jake on X and Instagram.