So... who is the new RING Magazine WW champion?

[Ras44]

"The only three occasions when a fighter will lose his championship status are when he retires, moves to another weight division, or is defeated in a championship bout."

"Championship vacancies can be filled by winning a box-off between The Ring’s number-one and number-two contenders, or, in certain instances, a box-off between our number-one and number-three contenders." - The Ring Magazine

Floyd Mayweather retired, so he is not the WW RING champion, by default.

The box off between the #1 and #2 guys already happened, when Miguel Cotto defeated Shane Mosley. Somehow, I don't see them giving the championship belt to Cotto. They probably aren't going to give it to the winner of Cotto/Margarito either, because they'll say that Margarito is not the #2 guy (Shane still is) or the #3 guy (that should be, right now, Paul Williams).

Personally, I think that the winner of Cotto/Margarito should be The Ring champion, either by giving it to Cotto right now (which would make Margarito the #3 contender, and therefore a worthy challenger for the belt come fight time) or just let those two duke it out for the belt.

Let's see what Oscarito decides.

[MANGLER]

It still ain't confirmed PBF actually is retired. And if he is, Cotto beat Shane before PBF left and vacated, so the Ring shouldn't just give him the belt. GBP is gonna want the Cotto-Tony winner to fight Shane for the belt, or maybe Oscar if he can squeeze 147.

[raabd]

It still ain't confirmed PBF actually is retired. And if he is, Cotto beat Shane before PBF left and vacated, so the Ring shouldn't just give him the belt. GBP is gonna want the Cotto-Tony winner to fight Shane for the belt, or maybe Oscar if he can squeeze 147.

Yeah it is.

[starjammer]

If I were the WBC I would put the Cotto-Marg fight for the WBC belt, but the winner has to defend it against Mosley after.

[Fox McCloud]

If I were the WBC I would put the Cotto-Marg fight for the WBC belt, but the winner has to defend it against Mosley after.

It won't happen. The WBA belt is already held by the winner, and the WBC will NEVER award a vacant belt to a fighter who already holds on of the championships.

Also, The Ring belt will be vacant until #1 fights #2 (or #3 in some instances) AFTER the current champion retires, hence why Cotto vs. Mosley doesn't count as the decider of the vacant crown.