Pac wants to contest Cotto’s title/ Cotto insists that it should be a Non Title!

[Animalistic]

If Cotto's bout agreement indicated that it would be a defense of the WBO title, then Cotto vacating the title would indeed be a breach, and he would be open to damages to Top Rank. Typically though bout agreements would absolutely indicate if a title defense was being made, so it leads me to believe it wasnt in the contract, otherwise Cotto would be making statements right now against his own interests if there were to be an ultimate breach later, which his lawyer would certainly have advised him against. But I have not seen the bout agreement, so I have no way to know for sure.
Here is the WBO policy on "non-title fights":

SECTION 15. NONCHAMPIONSHIP FIGHTS or NON-WBO CHAMPIONSHIP FIGHTS
(a) Nothing in these Rules is intended to prohibit a World Champion from engaging in non-WBO Championship fights, even if the non-championship fight is in a weight category different from that in which the Champion is the WBO Title holder. The outcome of any non-title fight shall not affect the recognition of the World Championship by the Organization, provided, however, if a WBO Champions loses a match subject to this Paragraph, the WBO the World Championship Committee may order the WBO Champion to conduct a Mandatory Contest within 120 days of losing the match.

(b) A WBO champions shall not participate in a non-championship fight that is not a WBO Championship without the prior authorization of the WBO World Championship Committee. This authorization shall be subject to such conditions as the WBO World Championship Committee determines. In addition, this authorization will be granted only on the condition that the WBO Champion pay a fee to the WBO that is the equivalent of the amount that he WBO Champion would have paid to the WBO if the nonchampionship fight were conducted as a WBO Championship fight.

(c) A WBO Champion who wins a non-WBO Championship in weight class that is different than the weight class in which he holds his WBO Championship must decide within ten (10) days of the non-WBO Championship which title in which weight class he will retain. No WBO Champion may hold a non-WBO Championship in a weight class that is different from the weight class of his WBO Championship.


The WBO differs from the IBF in a very important way. In the IBF, you only retain the title if your bout was OVER the weight limit of your title. If you fight a non-title fight at or below your weight and lose, the IBF vacates the title. The WBO should correct this rule, because to have a guy keeping a title if he loses a non-title bout at or below the weight limit (unless his opponent was overweight) is just silly...............

One of the stipulations in the contract is that Cotto WBO belt would no be at stake (Acording to Cotto's lawyer). Both fighters agreed.

[JAB5239]

Everybody knows that Pacquiao is not a real welterweight, he's built is suited at best as a lightweight. Pacquiao wants the fight to be fair and asked Cotto to fight him at a catchweight of 145 lbs (his previous weight was 146 lbs during the clottey fight).

A measly 1 lb will not put a dent on Cotto's health that will truly affect his physical condition during the fight with Pacquiao. The fact is Cotto would probably out weigh Pacquiao by 10 lbs or more the night of the fight.

If you look at it Pacquiao is in disadvantage by agreeing to fight Cotto @145 lbs

If it isn't an advantage, why ask for it?

And if Manny isn't big enough to fight there, GTFO. Nobody has twisted his arm to move up. He wants a piece of history, but that should be achieved fairly. Like another poster has already pointed out, its not like there aren't a ton of weight classes today, we don't need catch weights too, other than to establish a non title superfight.

[mellow_mood]

dman.. i thought chups & me figure out this like 30 pages ago!!

[Talisayen]

If it isn't an advantage, why ask for it?

And if Manny isn't big enough to fight there, GTFO. Nobody has twisted his arm to move up. He wants a piece of history, but that should be achieved fairly. Like another poster has already pointed out, its not like there aren't a ton of weight classes today, we don't need catch weights too, other than to establish a non title superfight.

Kid don't get emotional and let me ask you one question.

Do you think a 1 lb difference in weight from Cotto's previous fight is significant enough to affect his performance?

[JAB5239]

Kid don't get emotional and let me ask you one question.

Do you think a 1 lb difference in weight from Cotto's previous fight is significant enough to affect his performance?

If it isn't, why ask for it to begin with? Roach obviously feels Manny would have a better chance or he wouldn't have pushed for a catchweight, would he have?

[pelonxsoldier28]

145 + 65/35=no way in hell cotto's title is on the line..that wouldnt be fair at all..you wanna challenge the champ...play by the champs rules

agreed.................

[Talisayen]

If it isn't, why ask for it to begin with? Roach obviously feels Manny would have a better chance or he wouldn't have pushed for a catchweight, would he have?

Please answer the question. You think a mere 1 lb during weigh-in will put a big dent on Cotto's performance comes the night he fights Pacquiao? Remember, after the weigh-in Cotto will rehydrate to 157 - 160 lbs.

[JAB5239]

Please answer the question. You think a mere 1 lb during weigh-in will put a big dent on Cotto's performance comes the night he fights Pacquiao? Remember, after the weigh-in Cotto will rehydrate to 157 - 160 lbs.

You haven't answered me, yet want an answer to your own question? Typical. I don't know if it will hurt his performance or not, but obviously the Pacquiao camp feesl it will be to there advantage for him to come in lower, otherwis WHY WOULD THEY HAVE ASKED FOR IT?

[-MAKAVELLI-]

i would laugh if cotto came in at 144.5 and when manny steps on, it reads an even 147

[JAB5239]

You haven't answered me, yet want an answer to your own question? Typical. I don't know if it will hurt his performance or not, but obviously the Pacquiao camp feesl it will be to there advantage for him to come in lower, otherwis WHY WOULD THEY HAVE ASKED FOR IT?

Still waiting for an answer to my question Braggart.