Cotto vs Pacquiao And The Two-Pound Compromise

[Gabilan]

I put in a call to TR to clarify the belt situation and am awaiting a response. I mentioned it in the article based on a past Arum quote stating his every intetion to market this as Pacquiao chasing history in winning belts in seven weight classes.

The comment was made before the fight was official, but also while it was known that it would always take place at a catchweight - just a matter of whether it would be 143 or 145.

For what it's worth, Pac getting Cotto to agree to a 145 lb limit is nowhere near as bad as - say, Oscar moving up to MW, stealing a title from Sturm in a fight where both weighed 160, then demanding the Hopkins fight take place at no higher than 158.

As of right now the reports from PR are that Cotto will not put the belt on the line due to the fact that the fight is at 145. Reports are also indicating that the WBO president (I might be mistaken as to the actual organization.) has stated that Cotto is required to pay the 3% fee regardless of whether the belt is actually on the line or not. Stay tuned!! Jajaja.

[JakeNDaBox]

As of right now the reports from PR are that Cotto will not put the belt on the line due to the fact that the fight is at 145. Reports are also indicating that the WBO president (I might be mistaken as to the actual organization.) has stated that Cotto is required to pay the 3% fee regardless of whether the belt is actually on the line or not. Stay tuned!! Jajaja.

Reports from PR on past boxing subjects have ranged from unconfirmed rumors to out an out erroneous. It's putting it mildly that ENDI thrives on sensationalism.

I'm still awaiting on-the-record confirmations, but the morsels I've gathered from far more reliable sources indicate that this will be a title fight. Whether or not it's for Cotto's actual belt or some other vacant title remains to be seen.

[DonTaseMeBrah]

the scary part about all of this is that nothing is signed. all arum has is 2 verbal agreements from both fighters.

pac is a very capricious fellow. he can change his mind on a whim or which ever ever snake whispers in his ear.

he might not want to sign unless its for the belt or change the weight demands or a higher purse.

Mercurial Manny Pacquiao....

this fight aint done brahs.

[Gabilan]

Reports from PR on past boxing subjects have ranged from unconfirmed rumors to out an out erroneous. It's putting it mildly that ENDI thrives on sensationalism.

I'm still awaiting on-the-record confirmations, but the morsels I've gathered from far more reliable sources indicate that this will be a title fight. Whether or not it's for Cotto's actual belt or some other vacant title remains to be seen.

El Nuevo Dia is not reporting any of this. Its Carlos Narváez Rosario from El Vocero. He quotes Francisco Valcárcel as stating that Cotto will have to pay regardless of whether the belt is on the line. Valcárcel also states that Arum confirmed that it will be for the belt when they saw each other in New Jersey, which I have to suppose was before the latter went on vacation seeing as this telephone interview was conducted yesterday.

On the other hand, Rey Colon, also from El Vocero, quotes Cotto's lawyer Gaby Peñagarícano as saying that he has spoken to Arum and that they came to some sort of preliminary agreement that the fight will not be for the belt. As the above poster stated the contract has yet be formally signed. I mean, Arum is in Puerto Vallarta now meeting with Koncz, correct?

Take that information as you wish. I guess I'll just wait for your sources to get back to you so we can straighten this out.

[worldbestmcotto]

**** it!!!! If Its for the title or not, **** it ,its at 145 lbs, too bad the jones jr vs tarver II was called "no excuses" cuz that wood be the best name for this fight, too many stipulations , they need to just sign this b!tch and find out if bayless or benji esteveZ is available to be the 3rd man in the ring , cuz as a cotto and manny fan I plan on getting tickets , and I need to plan this **** ahead in time, this is a realistic best fite possible that is out there rite now, shane doesn't have the pull to sell a fite vs manny more than cotto does plus arum wants more bread for himself, floyd won't **** with arum to get at manny or cotto, pw hasn't fought a ppv headline that I can remember much less a ppv mega event and hes 27 already and he wont sell whoever he tries to get in the ring with at 147-160 lbs more than these 2

[JakeNDaBox]

El Nuevo Dia is not reporting any of this. Its Carlos Narváez Rosario from El Vocero. He quotes Francisco Valcárcel as stating that Cotto will have to pay regardless of whether the belt is on the line. Valcárcel also states that Arum confirmed that it will be for the belt when they saw each other in New Jersey, which I have to suppose was before the latter went on vacation seeing as this telephone interview was conducted yesterday.

On the other hand, Rey Colon, also from El Vocero, quotes Cotto's lawyer Gaby Peñagarícano as saying that he has spoken to Arum and that they came to some sort of preliminary agreement that the fight will not be for the belt. As the above poster stated the contract has yet be formally signed. I mean, Arum is in Puerto Vallarta now meeting with Koncz, correct?

Take that information as you wish. I guess I'll just wait for your sources to get back to you so we can straighten this out.

I understand what you're saying, but that almost confirms my point. The same paper is basically reporting three different sides of the same story in two different articles.

It's entirely possible that the fight becomes for some interim title (as has been the case with a slew of Arum's fights as of late). But so far, the only one claiming it's a non-title fight is not even Cotto but his laywer. Paco is under the impression that his belt is on the line, and so far Arum isn't in a hurry to deny it.

I mean for $12 million (and the potential to make more), I don't see why Cotto would be concerned about it being a title fight. But if he's not willing to put his belt on the line (yet still pay upwards of $150K to the WBO), then another belt will be at stake, no matter how frivilous.

The crazy part is - who cares if there is even a title at stake? This fight sells itself.

[Gabilan]

I understand what you're saying, but that almost confirms my point. The same paper is basically reporting three different sides of the same story in two different articles.

It's entirely possible that the fight becomes for some interim title (as has been the case with a slew of Arum's fights as of late). But so far, the only one claiming it's a non-title fight is not even Cotto but his laywer. Paco is under the impression that his belt is on the line, and so far Arum isn't in a hurry to deny it.

I mean for $12 million (and the potential to make more), I don't see why Cotto would be concerned about it being a title fight. But if he's not willing to put his belt on the line (yet still pay upwards of $150K to the WBO), then another belt will be at stake, no matter how frivilous.

The crazy part is - who cares if there is even a title at stake? This fight sells itself.

Definitely. Who cares about the details when two of the best are matched up against each other. They could be fighting for the Inter-Continental Puerto Rico-Philippines Archipelago Interim Championship for all I care. Thanks for responding though.

[blacksocks]

If you're a division champion and agree on a catch-weight for whatever reason, then you have to put your belt on the line for the challenger. If you don't agree on a catch-weight, then don't fight.

But why does Cotto agree on a catch-weight? Because he'll get his biggest payday and will open up more opportunities in the future. That's the catch! That' what the belt is traded for.

A belt is worth nothing to a loser.

[gopi11]

If the belt really is on the line this is a mockery... Pacman is not above all other boxers to demand a catchweight and a title to be on the line as well... I hope the belt isn't on the line. If it is this fight needs to be at 147. NO MORE, NO LESS.

Then how about the Hopkins/De La Hoya fight? That was a catch weight fight (158) for Hopkins' middleweight belts...

[prsi]

No demands or negotiations tokk place regarding the belts. Pacquiao did not demand for Cotto's belt to be involved.
At this moment it is Francisco Varcarcel (OMB President)who is trying to cash in on the fame and fortune that this fights creates. It appears that he will try to make Cotto put the title at risk or receive a penalty ($$$). It also seems that Cotto's team will be willing to abandon the title if such demands are impose by the organization.
We will have to wait and see how and who comes out winning in this cold war that will only add more expectations to the fight.

But once again in all fairness PACQUIAO DID NOT DEMAND THE BELT TO BE INVOLVED