Pacquiao-Cotto Title Bout Rests on WBO's Section 15

[MANGLER]

**** this ****. WBO belt, catchweight belt, whatever. Man I wish they'd just fought other opponents.

[prsi]

Lets not get excited about this news people.

This is a very irresponsible article because it has been selective on which section of the rules the writer wants the readers to see. All that this rules is saying is that Cotto will need to pay a fee (unless he vacates) whether the title is on the line or not. There's no place their that state that it is mandatory to put the title on the line Read it properly.

There are other rules that talk about Mandatory challenges, Title Defense and weight class that has been excluded from the righter report to give the readers a complete scenario of rules that pertain to this situation and ar teh following.

Section 3 "Weight Categories" from the same rules mentioned but not discussed be the writer reads as follows:

The World Championships shall be recognized in the following weight categories of divisions:

Welter weight Up to 147 lbs or 66.68 kgs.

This is the first obstacle for the WBO to make this fight a title belt.
Their own rules stipulate that WW title fight is UP TO 147 not UP TO 145 which is what has been agreed by Pacquaio-Cotto. Forcing Cotto to put the title on the line for an UP TO 145 lbs fight goes against their own rules, that it has happened before, yes but not because the sanctioning parties force the boxers to do it, but because they had agreed to do so.

Section 20 "PROCEDURE WHEN A TITLE IS DECLARED VACANT"
A World Championship may be lost for breach of contract, for disability to fight or to make the required weight, or for any other reason established in the Regulations that govern World Championships, but a World Championship shall only be obtained as the result of a bout duly authorized by the World Championship Committee. In the case that a World Championship is declared vacant, the two Best Classified Contenders Available as determined by the Championship Committee shall be granted a period not to exceed thirty (30) days to negotiate a contract for the vacant World Championship or an Interim World Championship, as the case may be with a duly qualified promoter.

Note that per the rule above and if Cotto vacates the title Pacquaio will not have the title just by beating Cotto. If he wants to get the WW belt he will have 3 options.

1) Fight Cotto for it at 147 (unless Cotto changes his mind),

2) Wait until Cotto vacates the title and then fight Joshua Clottey which is the 2nd best classified contender of the moment as per the WBO July rankings, but then again if the Pacman-Cotto fight doesn't take place Cotto has no need to vacate the title and i also really doubt that Pacquaio will face Clottey.

3) Step away from Cotto and with it, Pacquaio's best payday available besides PBF (same applies to Cotto, because Pacquiao represents his biggest payday beside PBF) and fight Mosley (who has said the he will figh Pacquiao for the title at a cathchweight) or Berto for their titles.

Once again there are more rules and sections that talk about what is going on with the Cotto-Pacquiao issue and it will left for interpretation but to post a news with out presenting all the rules involve and that determine what is actually being discussed (which is the title on the line or not) is completely irresponsible. th only thing that the writer brought to the table was that Cotto will have to pay the fees if he want;s to keep the title and Cotto had already expressed that the WBO has the right to do that, What Cotto is dis*****g and not agreeing too is the conditions on which the WBO wants him to put the title on the line by limiting, resticting and by doing changing there own rules. UP TO 147 not UP TO 145!!!

Here's the link for our own interpretation:
http://www.wbo-int.com/public/org/regulations.htm

[prsi]

Pacquiao and his people are being lame.. its ok though.. if you choose not to fight cotto, just wait for the winner of the september 19th fight and fight the winner

What I'm saying is if it's a non-title bout, then it's off and he will search for other options. I hope you understand my statement

Bet me on that.

I say f**k the Title. Cotto should vacate it.

Varcarcel eres un verdadero buscon!

All three of you even in disagreement are saying the truth. Both fighter will have the right to step away from the fight and in that case it will be the boxing fans who will end up losing (Besides Arum).

They will be both stepping away from their biggest payday available (besides PBF) and then the will start a race to see who lands a fight with PBF. IN this case i beleive that Cotto will have the advantage because he is willing to accept probably 65/35 while both Pacquaio and PBF will be demanding much more than the 50/50. Do you really think that with the problems that Pacman's negotiating tactics and issues in the past (DLH, Hatton) and in the present (Cotto) will actually help him to land the fight. Not to mention that he will probabl be with Arum who PBF wont deal with. Keep in mind that Cotto extention agreement with Top Ranks is conditioned to the Pacman-Cotto fight therefore in January it will be more easier to sign a fight with PBF to take place in April of next month and if that's the case and the Pacman-Cotto fight doesn't happen Cotto will still has his belt to offer PBF at the regulations of UP TO 147 Title fight.

[joerville]

If the belt is very much important to Cotto and if he thinks he cannot win at the agreed weight of 145 lbs he can come to the fight at 147 lbs... its his choice.... but he will have to pay 1 million dollars for every pound in excess of 145 lbs.

End of story.

Stop bitching and crying already!

[oc9979]

somebody said it before and i didnt believe that this can happen. good to read this article cause it was made clear to me. thanks for sharing bibpoppapump

i said it

http://www.boxingscene.com/forums/sh...4&postcount=10

[oc9979]

my question is if cotto vacates the title a week or so before the fight?
he is not a WBO champs then. so he wouldnt need authorization

[prsi]

If the belt is very much important to Cotto and if he thinks he cannot win at the agreed weight of 145 lbs he can come to the fight at 147 lbs... its his choice.... but he will have to pay 1 million dollars for every pound in excess of 145 lbs.

End of story.

Stop bitching and crying already!

WOW You just brought a very interesting point that I didn't think off.

Lets say the title is on the line at 145 and Cotto comes in at 147 at weigh in. He will have to pay the title fees plus the 2 million per lbs that he has to pay just to defend his title under the regulations the title represents (UP TO 147).

Now can somebody tell me that this makes sense!!!!

[prsi]

my question is if cotto vacates the title a week or so before the fight?
he is not a WBO champs then. so he wouldnt need authorization

No once Cotto vacates his title (if he does) he doesn't need authorization from no sanctioning body whether it is a week from the fight or tomorrow.

In that case the only authorization that Cotto will need for a fight is from a state commision and they only deny boxers with certain circumstances like, heath, punishments etc....

[joerville]

The point is Cotto will have to decide about that. He has money to pay competent lawyers, advisers and consultants. They have already agreed to fight at 145 lb and WBO belt will be on the line regardless of what Cotto wants. Lets just wait for the result of the negotiation and not speculate and act as an expert because it is getting embarrassing and annoying already.

[wecreep]

Agreed. Joerville has laid out the skewed logic of this fight without realizing it.

People need to realize that it's not about the fight happening at 145lbs, it's about the title being up for grabs at this catch weight. So it's not a question about a victory as much as the achievement. Keep in mind that Cottos contract mentioned nothing about this being a title fight. All Cotto is saying is that if it's going to be a title fight, than he should be able to compete at the weight that the title was won at. Those that argue on behalf of Pac say that the WW scale is 141 to 147 so it is a WW fight. They're right. So Cotto should be allowed to come in at 147.

He agreed on a non title fight under these concessions. When you argue against this, you side with the powers that **** on boxers and represent everything bad in the sport we love.