(Breaking News)-Fight at 147 lbs if Pacquiao wants title

[PRPOWERPUNCHES]

By NICK GIONGCO

July 30, 2009, 8:04pm

If Manny Pacquiao wants their November 14 fight to be a title fight, Miguel Cotto said the Filipino has to agree to meet him at the welterweight limit of 147 lbs.

In the event that the fight would get into trouble with the World Boxing Organization (WBO), the Puerto Rican reiterated that he is willing to vacate the throne.

“If Pacquiao wants that the fight be for the title, (it) will have to be in 147 pounds. I won the title in that, the welterweight (division) and that is 147 pounds,” Cotto told the Primera Hora newspaper yesterday during the launch of his clothing line.

Cotto, the reigning WBO welter champion, stressed that the issue of the title was not raised during the negotiations with the Pacquiao camp.

Top Rank head Bob Arum echoed Cotto’s statement.

“No,” said Arum, when asked if Pacquio’s people raised the matter of Cotto’s WBO title during the negotiations.

“The weight of 145 pounds is not a category. If the OMB (WBO) is having a problem with my decision (not to stake it), I will gladly hand over the title. I do not have problems with that,” said Cotto, who was represented during the negotiations by Gabriel Penagaricano, one of boxing’s premiere lawyers.

“The OMB (WBO) has the legal authority to dismiss me as champion and gladly I deliver them the title. (WBO president) PacoValccel, better than nobody, knows that the 145 pounds is not a division,” added Cotto, who beat Joshua Clottey in his last outing last June.

Exactly, what I was saying all along! WTF, is Pacboy thinking?

[JM1]

nothings final yet. i think theyre still struggling with the negotiations

[savorduhflavor]

This is ******. Does Cotto think people will consider him a champ if he loses? Might as well lose the title like a man.

It's like he's doing this out of nothing but pride, like he just hates the concessions that he made to Pac. But this is just impractical.

[M.I Truth ?]

This is ******. Does Cotto think people will consider him a champ if he loses? Might as well lose the title like a man.

It's like he's doing this out of nothing but pride, like he just hates the concessions that he made to Pac. But this is just impractical.

Its not that. He as champion doesn't want the inconvenience of coming in lighter than he has to if he is putting his title on the line. This is a type of negotiating that does not involve money.

[savorduhflavor]

Its not that. He as champion doesn't want the inconvenience of coming in lighter than he has to if he is putting his title on the line. This is a type of negotiating that does not involve money.

I know exactly what it is. I just think it's ******. I understand that a champ should be able to fight at the limit, but this is a mega fight. Things change. You already agreed to 145. Just man up and put the belt on the line, make the fight the biggest fight it can be.

[PRPOWERPUNCHES]

I know exactly what it is. I just think it's ******. I understand that a champ should be able to fight at the limit, but this is a mega fight. Things change. You already agreed to 145. Just man up and put the belt on the line, make the fight the biggest fight it can be.

Your obviously not a man of principle!!!!!


The fight was signed sealed and delivered to be at 145 (WITHOUT THE TITLE.)
Now all of a sudden you want the title? Pacboy needs to man up and take the fight the way it T.I.Z or just come up 2lbs and fight for the title!!!

[JCaster]

Cotto's WW belt = Manny's p4p title

sounds fair to me..

IMO

If cotto wants the p4p title go down to 140lb limit jww.. (Shane would risk his health for that)

If manny wants the WW belt go up to 147lb limit WW.


They must meet in the middle at 145 if both titles are on the line..

[M.I Truth ?]

I know exactly what it is. I just think it's ******. I understand that a champ should be able to fight at the limit, but this is a mega fight. Things change. You already agreed to 145. Just man up and put the belt on the line, make the fight the biggest fight it can be.

He agreed to that though with no title. I think the title was his bargaining chip to make the fight at 147. He agreed to 145 but now that the talk of the title being on the line is not what he agreed to. Its like having your cake and eating it too for Pac's camp. I can see why a champ would be annoyed at whats going on right now.

[The Underboss]

hopefully going back to 147 won't hurt manny.

[savorduhflavor]

My point is, what kind of bargaining chip is the WBO title? If Cotto loses without putting the title on the line, it's not like he's still gonna be considered a champ, even if he still is. Or he'll vacate it out of principal? Again, that's just ******. Put it on the line like a man, make the fight bigger, that is the ultimate goal.

To the casual fan, being able to bill this fight as a title fight is important.