By Miguel Rivera
The president of the World Boxing Association (WBA), Gilberto Jesus Mendoza, is steadfast in his plan to reduce the multiple world titles that his sanctioning body has in each division.
Apparently, Mendoza Jr. revealed that he offered Puerto Rican superstar Miguel Angel Cotto the opportunity to fight for the WBA's "super" championship at 154-pounds.
The conversation took place last year, before the WBA made a decision to clear out unnecessary title belts and the sanctioning body president wants to honor his word.
Cotto has been fighting in the middleweight division since 2014, but he's been fighting at catch-weights below the 160-pound limit. For his last fight, against Canelo Alvarez last November, the weight limit was 155 - one pound above junior middleweight.
Cotto previously held the WBA's super title at 154. He lost it in 2012 by way of a twelve round decision to Floyd Mayweather Jr.
The last "super" champion was Mayweather. The title is now vacant as Mayweather retired last September.
While Mendoza is looking to eliminate the "super" titles and solve the ongoing problem where there are WBA "super champions" and "regular champions" in most weight divisions - he would allow Cotto to fight for the super belt.
If Cotto accepts the WBA's offer, he would have to take part in their ongoing movement. As part of the WBA's plan, he would have to face WBA junior middleweight champion Erislandy Lara in his very first defense. In the last two weeks, the WBA has been ordering many of the "super" champions and "regular" champions to face each other in mandatory fights.
Mendoza says Cotto, if he goes in this direction, could very well become the last fighter to get crowned as "super" champion at junior middleweight.
"I said that our goal is to minimize the number of titles. Currently the super championship at 154 pounds is not available and it is closed. The only way we could re-open the possibility [of that title] is if Cotto decides to fight for that title and then the winner of that fight would have to face Erislandy Lara." Mendoza told ESPN Deportes.
"He could face Lara right now. The other option is to re-open the title of super champion - simply because I am a man of my word and the offer was made to Cotto prior to my decision to reduce the number of titles."
