By Jake Donovan

The next leg of the World Boxing Council (WBC) welterweight “tournament” will gain an expanded audience. A semifinal matchup between Azael Cosio and Miguel Barrionuevo will take place January 30 in Guerrero, Mexico, with the winner in line to face unbeaten contender Sammy Vasquez.

The show from Mexico will air live on Televisa, whose feed will also include local favorites Miguel Roman and Nery Saguilan in separate bouts. The aforementioned welterweight clash will air live on TyC Sports in the United States and in Barrionuevo’s Argentina homeland.

“This tournament is a great move by the WBC,” said Sampson Lewkowicz, the promoter of record for the bout, with the show in Mexico presented by Promociones del Pueblo. “I'm very happy for the great opportunity that the WBC has given all the participants to compete for the prestigious green belt.”

News of the nine-man tournament gained formation earlier this month, following the WBC’s previous declaration of filling the void left behind by Floyd Mayweather, who retired following his 12-round win over Andre Berto last September. Oddly, a champ was crowned in the front end, when Danny Garcia claiming honors following his 12-round points win over Robert Guerrero.

Garcia will next face Amir Khan in an ordered eliminator. The clash also serves as a rematch to their July ’12 title unification meet, in which Garcia rallied from an early deficit to stop Khan in four rounds.

Meanwhile, Vasquez – who forced Aron Martinez to quit after six rounds in the chief support to Garcia-Guerrero – will sit back and watch the next stage of the WBC tournament unfold this weekend.

Cosio (20-3-2, 17KOs), a 34-year old boxer from Panama, comes in having won four straight contests – all by knockout. None have come against the level of opposition that suggests he’s ready to enter a tournament for the right to one day challenge for the welterweight crown, but nevertheless could potentially move one step closer towards that dream.

That said, he carries stronger credentials (relatively speaking) than his forthcoming opponent.

Barrionuevo (28-3-2, 19KOs) also carries a four-fight win streak into Saturday’s showdown. The 26-year old southpaw most recently scored an 8th round stoppage of countryman Victor Hugo Velazquez last September in Argentina, where he has fought exclusively through nearly seven years as a pro.

This weekend will mark the first time either fighter has entered a title fight or sanctioned eliminator. A win won’t put them in direct line for title shot, but will move the winner one step closer than previously ever dreamed to be the case.

“What the WBC is doing is good for boxing,” Lewkowicz believes. “[It] gives some talented fighters their chance to fight for a championship they might otherwise be forced to wait years for or be shut out of totally. I commend them for this move.”

Jake Donovan is the managing editor of BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox