WBC president Jose Sulaiman has confirmed that Naseem Hamed is formally no longer the WBC world featherweight champion after he refused to relinquish the WBO belt he also holds. Hamed won the WBC title after defeating Cesar Soto at Detroit in October to add to his WBO belt, but Sulaiman warned the Sheffield fighter that he could not hold both belts as the WBC didn't recognise the WBO weight division. And after discussions between the two, `Prince' Hamed agreed to give up his WBC title.
Hamed relinquished the belt two days ago but Sulaiman agreed to delay the announcement until after the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which ended at the weekend. Sulaiman declared: “Naseem Hamed is no longer the WBC featherweight Champion. Effective from January 9, the WBC featherweight championship was declared vacant, as per the agreement between Hamed and myself."
Hamed had earlier informed the WBC that he had chosen to keep the WBO title. The WBC did not criticise Hamed for his decision to keep the WBO belt; he told them he wished to recognise his loyalty to that organisation instead. They now plan to fill the vacant belt as quickly as possible. Sulaiman added: “The WBC has ordered a fight between number one ranked Luisito Espinosa of the Philippines and Guty Espadas of Mexico to fill the vacancy.”
