imo fair. what would be unfair is if Pacquiao wasn't allowed to fight for a title at a catchweight when all these other guys like Oscar de la Hoya, Julio Cesar Chavez, Bernard Hopkins, Meldrick Taylor, Pernell Whitaker, Terry Norris, Sugar Ray Leonard, Thomas Hearns, etc. were allowed to do it.
Fair. Cotto is the one who asked for 145 and since it is well within the welter limit . . . there's no reason why it shouldn't be on the line.
Well, it's not exactly fair, but not in any way ridiculous. It is within the welterweight limit. I just don't like catchweights, especially concerning title fights. My view is this: If my best weight was 147 and I got a title at that weight, I wouldn't want to be forced to defend that title at a lower weight limit. Even if I was challenged by the world's p4p #1 and the biggest draw in the sport. Cotto is a big draw himself and it's not that he doesn't have money or other good options. So if I was Cotto and I knew Pac wants the "paper belt" to get a title in another division, I'd use that to make him fight me at 147. Sorry Radab, can't vote on this one!
I could give a ****, I just want the fight to be 12 rds. If the leather belt with a plaque is on the line so be it.
I hear you, but the term "allowed" isn't accurate. All those guys you mentioned had opponents that agreed to fight at a catchweight. Nobody told Pac "you're not allowed to fight at a catchweight for a title", he just had to find someone with a belt that would agree to that.
If he wants the belt then he should fight at 147. But **** the belt anyway. Cotto doesnt deserve that belt, it belongs to Clottey.
well noone put a gun on Cotto's head to make him accept the catchweight.If you're gonna agree to the catchweight, then you have a responsibility to bring everything you can to the table to make the fight as big and meaningful as possible. Cotto can't agree to fight at 145, but not put his title on the line. Its either you don't agree to the catchweight in the first place, or agree to it and put your title on the line. Cotto wants the big payday but doesn't want Pacquiao to win the title? Doesn't make sense.
i'm kind of split on the issue to be honest. keep in mind that 145 lbs is inside the welter weight limit, so technically the belt can be put on the line. on the other hand, cotto is contractually obligated to come in at 145 instead of coming exactly on the limit as he usually does, which in theory should be a handicap to balance out pac moving up in weight. aaaarrrrrggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhcluster!!! it's a cluster **** because of all the technicalities.
Personally, i believe, that it's bollocks Its just a stupid trinket, but still, it shouldn't be up for grabs If Manny wants to come in at 145, then thats fine, but to force Cotto to put the 147 trinket on the line, but tell him he's not allowed to come in at 147, is, frankly, immoral