as a pac fan im disappointed

Primarily money! It's not to weaken Cotto but to make the fight even.

Why do you think Cotto would take the risk and sign up if he's weak at a catchweight to fight the smaller guy? Money!

That's a negotiation and Cotto is not being forced to sign. If he signs then that's his doing. You can't cry for him.

. . . why do you think le Londe sign up and fought Sugar Ray at a catch weight? And De la Hoya to fight Pac? Money!

 

He is not asking Cotto to come down at 140 which is his comfort zone but I think meeting half way at 143 or 144 like the JMM Floyd fight is fair enough. There is a need to level playing field and Pac who is the bigger draw is just exercising his options in a negotiation. Both fighters need to settle this matter, not us kibitzers who haven't experienced getting punched in the ring. Let's face it Pac has already overstretched himself fighting in the 140s. He knows his limits. He has already accomplished so much that he needs not please any Tom, Dick and Harry in boxing forums.

 

I'm not convinced he necessarily wanted to fight Cotto, but since PBF/JMM was pushed back, the camp thought that he might as well find a stay busy fight that would make major money (which I don't think is the right thing to do).

What would've been better was to take a tune-up at 140 or 147 while PBF/JMM goes on, which would allow Pac to really get accustomed to the 140s, and then take PBF at 147, and THEN take on Cotto and Mosley at 147.

Of course, this entire matter of Pac being serious again about entering politics (which I'm pretty sure no one wants) kind of screwed things over...

 

It comes with the territory of being the #1 P4P fighter and the cash cow of the sport.

 

I have no problem with the catchweight, since I think it's the only way to make a good, exciting and income generating fight have an even playing field.

BUT I do have a problem with the fight being for a belt. Sure the catchweight is within the WW limits, but it just seems wrong to get a WW belt if you don't let your opponent weigh in up to the limit of WW. Plus, if Pac does win, does he even plan to defend the belt? How would he go about that, with a catchweight? Or will he just win the belt to rack up an accomplishment and then immidiately let it go like some sort of one night stand? It just doesn't seem right.

This fight should be made solely for the purpose of entertaining the fans and giving both fighters big fat pachecks for it. And not for winning belts in a weight class where Pac does not belong.

 

Now this is a logical one. Very good point. :yep

 

Oh it will definitely do something for their legacies. It will be a good fight between good fighters, a chance for Cotto to beat the #1 P4P fighter and a chance for Pac to beat an elite bigger fighter. Make no mistake, whoever wins will have a great name in his resume. You don't need to win belts to add to your legacy, you just need to fight good/great fighters.

 

its a catchweight! has been done before by ATG's and HOF's.... maybe dissappointing for people who cant wait for the negotiations to close. Why not set a limit on how much a fighter is to be paid? why not set a fixed percentage on who gets the bigger share of the purse? Champion or challenger? Popular or not? Home advantage and visiting? Why not include all of these factors while your at it?!? see...lots of things that bothers the fans. These fans make it look like that these organizations didnt think about the Pro's and Con's of doing a catchweight. In this case, the sport is probably benefiting thats why they're letting them do it.

 

same day weigh ins and this problems eliminated

 

For him to unify 140 and don't fight any welterweights at a damn catchweight. That's what I would rather see. He could unify 140 and Floyd could unify 147 and both will retire as legends. They don't need each other.

 

I'm with you on that.

Better unify at 140 and include the JMM III fight. :yep

 

Yes! Good one.

 

It just makes too much sense. I think the head to head is overated anyway. Lewis and Rahman split 2 fights but I can't imagine there is a man alive that has Rahman rated higher than Lennox. Mayorga beat Forrest twice but I wouldn't rate him higher than Vernon. Taylor beat Hopkins twice but no way in hell is he rated higher than B-Hop. Ruiz beat Holyfield for crying out loud! I totally disagree with the opinion that they need each other. If they want to fight each other they should unify 140 and 147 and then fight each other afterwards. Imagine two unified undisputed champs going at it.