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AP Photo/Frank Franklin II
All of the drama surrounding the WBO's intervention into the Miguel Cotto-Manny Pacquiao contract negotiation was pathetic and pure madness. I appreciate that many of you want to see Manny try for a record seventh world title. I do too, but the title issue, which I understand has been resolved, was an afterthought. Money and catch weight drove this thing initially--period.
The World Boxing Organization wanted it to be a title shot because it technically is a fight that will occur within the welterweight limit and the entity stands to make a good chunk of change. Fine. What if the two fighters had contracted to meet at 141 instead of 145? The WBO template still exists since it is above the junior welterweight limit. Mandatory title fight? The better question may be what if Cotto weighs-in at 147 instead of 145? Most certainly such would breach the Pacquiao contract; however, he would absolutely be in compliance with WBO rules regarding maximum weight for welterweights.
The reality is that the World Boxing Organization turned on its champion and the most blatant example is making Manny Pacquiao the number one challenger in order to force Miguel's hand. The WBC doesn't have Manny ranked at welterweight. There is no Pacquiao listed at 147lbs on the IBF ratings board. How about the WBA? Negative. The Ring? Nope. The WBO didn't even have Manny on its radar screen at welterweight until this month. I could be wrong, but I believe the WBO did the same thing when David Haye-Wladimir Klitschko was still an option.
The Cotto-Pacquiao bout in November is going to be an all time classic and it was going to be that way whether or not the WBO played a role. The fact that the title is on the line now though means that it may have historical significance. It is highly unlikely that Manny will defend the title if he is able to secure it, well at least not at the full 147lb weight limit and certainly not against whoever the number one challenger may be (Joshua Clottey is currently ranked number 2). My guess is that if Floyd Mayweather, Jr. can get past Juan Manuel Marquez next month, he will come out of nowhere to be the WBO's number 1 welterweight contender (Mayweather is not currently ranked by the WBO).
Manny Pacquiao beat Oscar De La Hoya into retirement and has most likely done the same to Ricky Hatton. He won't accomplish that against Miguel Cotto. Win, lose, or draw and Miguel will still be a force within the welterweight division. He doesn't need a title to justify anything, let alone the WBO title. Neither does Manny. Both men are bigger than any championship strap.
If Manny wins in November, my hope is that he will raise the belt and then hand it to the WBO president, Francisco Valcarcel. If Miguel wins, then my hope is that he gives it to Bob Arum for picking up the sanctioning fees required by the WBO. The belt will make a touching parting gift between Cotto and Arum. Cotto can then go get his old WBA belt back from Shane Mosley.
Comments
Cotto just recently signed a 2 year contract extension with Arum good until 2011. Cotto can't just dump Arum unless he buy out his existing contract.
Fight Tickets bought: Check
Flights booked: Check
Hotel rooms booked: Check
It's going to be one craxy weekend!
2 Not so bad seat tickets = $900
2 R/T and hotels bookings = $500
1 Historical Moment to experience = Priceless...
Is it November 14 yet???
cotto WILL WIN
What a poor article... if cotto is in doubt his capacity to win , if he does not want to put his belt at stake, much more if he is afraid of pacman, ONLY he needs to do is to say NO!!! not to take the fight. (What in the world made him hard to do it) An army of envy opponents are qeueing. Dont put your blame to council, to uncle bob, to managers, to fans or to pacman. Blame Cotto for his fate! Is he not without brain like Eric? I pause for a reply....
I agree with you man the WBO turned on Cotto If I were him Id give that hunk of junk back they can kiss my ass Ill go look for SSM How Manny Pacquiao become no1 contender?? thats pure BS There needs to be only 1 tittle
I'm really looking forward to being proven right on November 14. Cotto has never been the same since losing to Margarito (fair or not), and this fight is going to be a boring slaughter, not a war at all. I don't see why everyone thinks this is going to be a fight of the year candidate. If a prime fighter slaughtering a shot, cherry-picked opponent is really so exciting, then aside from the fact that Cotto is a big name, why not call for Pacquiao to fight more David Diaz's--untalented guys who happen to hold belts?
let's give credit to cotto for standing up against pacman come nov. 14, but hey like 90% of the pundits are now talking about a pacman-mayweather showdown! this is not all hype, once in awhile you can't notice the high level of competivenes of some elite fighters we have in our generation! I'm glad to be a part of the generation of great sports athletes like michael jordan, tiger woods and p4p manny pacquiao!
pacman will win, same thing will happen during hatton's fight with the man pacman....
If cotto doesnt want to stake his title at 145lb all he has to say is NO! the final decision belongs to him. now that he accepted the contract there should be no more excuses and alibis anymore. I guess the opportunity to get a higher recognition and make more money makes more sense....
"..give credit to cotto for standing up against pacman.." why? what do you think, he is a pushover? hell no. I am rooting for the Pacman but Cotto is in no way a pushover and certainly has a lot bigger chances of beating Pacquiao than Hatton had.
Erik,
If pacman picked Shane
"why did Pacman picked an old guy"
"why did Pacman pick a guy who lost to Cotto"
"why did he pick shane at all?"
If pacman picked Clottey
"why did he pick a guy that lost to Cotto"
If Pacman picked Marquez:
Why did he pick marquez when he is a smaller guy"
"why did he pick marquez at light welterweight when they should be fighting at lightweight"
If pacman picks WIlliams:
First of all he is like 7 feet tall and weighs a ton. BUT if the catch wieght is at 160, then everyone will say he is weight drained becuase williams should be fighting at 170.
LOL! Cotto is capable and everyone is already written him off. Stupid
For the love of great boxing match and seeing two great fighters doing what they're known for ,everybody are done here.The November
Firepower is now being aim and ready for the great spectacles as expected.I hope the early tit-for-tat is nothing compared to the actual fight in the ring.As of now they're even.
Good article! Anybody that thinks anything else is just bias n pacfans! But cotto will prove every1 wrong when he beats down pacman! With all the disrespect he has takinthe last month or so he will take it all out on lil pac! So enjoy pac now cause pac will no longer b on top of the boxing world! Cotto by KO n 10 round via lefthook!!
The only reason for the Pacquiao camp in insisting on the 145 lb catch weight was to weaken Cotto on fight night. All these talks about "I don't care if Cotto fights at 200 lbs" (by Freddie Roach)) and "Pacquiao's too fast and he will destroy Cotto" (by Pacquiao's handlers) went out the window when things started getting more formal. All of a sudden, 147 lbs was unacceptable even though everyone heard about that 200 lbs comment.
Does Freddie Roach really believe Pacquiao is "vastly more superior" to Cotto? I don't think so. If he is, he would've allowed Pacquiao to take on Cotto at 147 lbs. Like he said, "I don't care if Cotto fights at 200 lbs."
So, y'all think this fight is all served up for Pacquiao on a silver plate? Roach and Pacquiao will be in for a rude surprise. Cotto too slow, huh? We shall see indeed.
atlas and slickrick....im sure ur gonna eat wat ur words!come fight night...ur losers together with cotto,,,coz its destined that pacman to be the greatest ever....mark my word u dumb idiots!
peoples champ over here dusnt knw anything bout netiquette..
anyway, i personally believe that cotto wont be as easy as odlh or ricky. but i agree with the coach that pac's speed will compensate for his size disadvantage. plus pacs a lot wiser in the ring now than before
peoples champ over here dusnt knw anything bout netiquette..
anyway, i personally believe that cotto wont be as easy as odlh or ricky. but i agree with the coach that pac's speed will compensate for his size disadvantage. plus pacs a lot wiser in the ring now than before
about the 145 pound request, i think that's just fair. cotto was 146 on weigh-in for the clottey match.. and clottey's obviously bigger than pac..
to: T. Atlas
Roach said he dont care if cotto balloons to weigh 200lbs come fight night but u forget to include that what roach is upto is to weigh in at 145 before the fight night... damn u please dont fool anyone here ur just quoting some lines and u dont mention d other just to buy ur comment.... dickhead
All boxers have excuses. Pacman too! Remember during the weigh-in with ODLH. Pacquiao camp alleged that the scale was tampered. That if ODLH won, he must have been over the agreed 147 limit.
But when Oscar got annihilated, what was the excuse? He is weight drained! But before the fight,"I feel great. I am in the best shape ever."
How about Hatton? However, the Hattonites or other so called experts had a very good excuse, that Hatton was way overrated. Can you believe that? A linear champion at 140 lbs. being overrated. Pacman just exposed them all!
I'm still looking forward to what Mayweather or anybody else including JMM will say after Pacquiao demolishes them!! For Mayweather perhaps an injury in his neck or brain??!! JMM, that he is already to old for Pacquiao and that the Pacman waited so long to fight him!
Balderdash!!!!!
Pac-Man is goin down within 10 rounds!!!!
To all - I'll bet all my properties including myself, for Pacman.
Whoever wants to gamble just tell me...Pacman the conqueror...
sorry for my stupid comments.
I hate Pacman .bec. im always lose in bet..
LIL MAC VS. BALD BULL
How do you know he wont defend the Welterweight Champion at 147lbs. you dmbass dont assume idiot you'll make an *ss of yourself. Pac will fight Mosley & PBF both welterweights. Are you Notradamus. Stick to facts fool. I bet your the one who thought this wasnt a title fight and now your mad!!!
Yea let Cotto get mad. Pac will be calm and Cotto will be so open for a counter. pac knows he is faster when Cotto cocks his fist back for a haymaker bop bop 2 devastating punches will hit him and floor him!!!Cotto is thinkin of retiring anyway hahaha a sign of a defeated man already!!!
bud, you're the one who's stupid here. Pacquiao won't defend his title if ever he won the WBO Welterweight title from Cotto. At least not at Welterweight full limit. And the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight won't happen. Maybe in your wildest dream.
You people who are picking Cotto to win is picking a man who wants to retire! I think he will be just trying to survive this fight and come out unscathed!!You will see for the first time Cotto will be trying to clinch!!!
easy bud boy...read and understand before you comment. the author is right, he won't defend it at a 147 lbs limit. If PBF win his Nov bout, PBF-Pac will be at a catchweight...dont try to be a smart aZZ jumping into people's opinion coz it only makes you a d@mb aZZ
Cotto now has an excuse if ever Pacquiao defeats him this coming November. "Pacquiao beat a not 100% Cotto".
145lbs limit is just for weigh in, they will not fight right after that. what's the problem man? This is 24 hours prior to the fight and Cotto can still rehydrate enough weight. He can still be 12-15 lbs heavier to pacman. that 2 lbs is nothing compare to 12-15 lbs you get my point? Cotto is not afraid to lose especially against a great fighter like Manny, he fears no one inside the ring why you?
Are you like retarded, moroon, stupid fat slob with no education!!Your statement is so laughable. I will remember your stupid comment and bury you like a rotted corps!!
Cotto now has an excuse if ever Pacquiao defeats him this coming November. "Pacquiao beat a not 100% Cotto".
No one is right because noone can read into the future. This author is not god!! And none of you can predict the future. Your the dumbass budwiser. Stop Drink to much alchol its destroying your brain cells!!
Yo peoples chump, what's gonna b really interesting come fight nite is wheather pac is gonna try n totally outbox cotto or will he eventually stand n trade with cotto like we all know he will do! Pac is a beast no doubt about that, but cotto is also a beast n like I said b4 a very disrespected 1 at that! But 1 thing freddie does not want pac 2 do is stand n trade with cotto simply because he knows that trading with cotto is the beginning of the end! After the first have of the fight when pac realizes that tryin 2 out box cotto isn't workin, he will stand n trade! N like I said b4 yeah he beat up OSLH but did he even touched the canvas? A 36 yr old weight drained over the hill Oscar didn't even take a knee! Yeah he quite on the stool cause he had no energy 2 throw anything back! But pacfans like the peoples chump think cotto will get stop!! Good luck pacfans ur man is fighting a Real WW champ n I can gureantee u 1 thing cotto won't b 2 tired or weak 2 though somin back!
Oink so Cotto is not 100% what did he loss half his balls hahahaha
Oinkyisanidiot, I presume you are the dumb bud. You are just a complete joke with no logic at all. Arguing with you will make me dumber.
Being not 100% will be Cotto's excuse. At least that is what I expect from him. Off course it's a rational excuse, he didn't fight at his full weight after all (146-147) being limited to just 145.
pac doesnt want to get hit period thats why HATTON, DELA HOYA & DIAZ didnt hit him much. Thats why he's the best & complete fighter. Pac does have alot of offensive power!! The real question is can Cotto handle it & how long. Fred will train Pac to be very elusive and pac is a great student and getting scary better!!!Cotto is washed up, slow & wants to retire. Hey if you want to loss your money more power too you pick Cotto then!!!
Being not 100% will be Cotto's excuse. At least that is what I expect from him. Off course it's a rational excuse, he didn't fight at his full weight after all (146-147) being limited to just 145.
great atheletes dont make excuses only LOSERS!!!!
Being not 100% will be Cotto's excuse. At least that is what I expect from him. Off course it's a rational excuse, he didn't fight at his full weight after all (146-147) being limited to just 145.
Your already dumber oink hehehehe makin excuses and trying to predict that pac vs Pbf wont happen!! That fight definitly has to happen!!! but im not predicting it will but its still possible.
Being not 100% will be Cotto's excuse. At least that is what I expect from him. Off course it's a rational excuse, he didn't fight at his full weight after all (146-147) being limited to just 145.
oink your a walkin excuse for a LOSER and dont get into the predicting business hahahaha
oink you stuttering man? Brain Farting?
hiCK, PBF will not fight Pacquiao without sacrificing his purse and he will not do it. That is simply the man that he is, who has the biggest pride in Boxing. He even chose Marquez over Pacquiao for his return fight.
hiCK, PBF will not fight Pacquiao without sacrificing his purse and he will not do it. That is simply the man that he is, who has the biggest pride in Boxing. He even chose Marquez over Pacquiao for his return fight.
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