Respected Columnist Dan Rafael: Cotto's belt will be on the line no matter what.

Discussion in 'World Boxing Forum' started by BigReg, Aug 11, 2009.


  1. BigReg

    BigReg Broad Street Bully Full Member

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    "Cotto has been reluctant to put the title up because he is coming in under the division limit of 147 pounds. However, at 145 it's still a welterweight fight, so logically the belt would be at stake. Nontitle bouts are only fought when a titleholder is heavier than the division's maximum weight limit.



    But whether Cotto balks or not, the belt is going to be at stake, somebody closely involved in fight told me Monday. Whether Cotto will give up the title or be stripped and Pacquiao will fight for the vacant belt is unclear. Cotto could also just defend the title (which is what he should do). Whatever scenario plays out, my source said the title will "definitely" be at stake at least for Pacquiao. So if he wins, he'll get the belt and all the Pacquiao worshippers can rest easy. Your man can make history.



    I'm no huge fan of all the alphabet titles, but there is an exception to every rule and this fight is it. Keep this in mind -- without the title on the line, it's still a must-see fight between two of boxing's best and most exciting fighters. But I'd like to see Pacquiao have a shot at the statistical milestone of winning titles in seven divisions even if all the titles in today's era have watered things down. That said, if it was so easy to win titles in seven divisions wouldn't everyone be doing it? Fact is, nobody has ever done it and I'd like to see Pacquiao at least have the opportunity to set the record and for Cotto to do his best to keep him from doing it."

    http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=4389940&name=rafael_dan
     
    BigReg, Aug 11, 2009
    BigReg, Aug 11, 2009
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  2. Bodysnatcher

    Bodysnatcher Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Bodysnatcher, Aug 11, 2009
    Bodysnatcher, Aug 11, 2009
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  3. Boom_Boom

    Boom_Boom R.I.P Boxing 6/9/12 Full Member

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    If its the sanctioning fees that Cotto is upset about, I read at another site that the IBA is willing to make a deal with TR that will pay the WBO sanctioning fees for Cotto if they allow to include their welterweight title to be on the line in the event for promotional purposes.
     
    Boom_Boom, Aug 11, 2009
    Boom_Boom, Aug 11, 2009
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  4. BigReg

    BigReg Broad Street Bully Full Member

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    Generally
     
    BigReg, Aug 11, 2009
    BigReg, Aug 11, 2009
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  5. Zaryu

    Zaryu Boxing Addict Full Member

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    This is good news. Although I'm more of a Cotto fan, I think this is the right thing for Pacquiao. I understand where Cotto is coming from, but if the WBO sanctioned Cotto/Jennings why not Cotto/Pacquiao. From what I've read Cotto doesn't have a problem at all being stripped of the title, he just belives that editing the weight class in which he is Champion is not the way for him risk it.
     
    Zaryu, Aug 11, 2009
    Zaryu, Aug 11, 2009
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  6. Kojiro

    Kojiro Well-Known Member Full Member

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    From a fan's perspective of course you're right. But from a fan's perspective they should all just close business so that we could have only one champion.

    In fact the organizations have no interest at all in clearing such a mess in regulations. Thanks to such "gray" areas they can make more $$$ changing the rules in a way that generates more profits.
     
    Kojiro, Aug 11, 2009
    Kojiro, Aug 11, 2009
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  7. David_TheMan

    David_TheMan ESB Sage Full Member

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    That is not the rule that the WBO follows, seeing that they have provisions in their rules that allow for the champ to have non-title fights in his division.

    I'm pretty sure other orgs allow the same thing to happen. If Cotto does not pay fees and he does vacate the title there is no way that the Cotto fight and the Manny fight will be for the vacated title when this would be a violation of the WBO's own bylaws, not to mention Clottey, ranked WBO #2 would have a nice case against the organization as well.
     
    David_TheMan, Aug 11, 2009
    David_TheMan, Aug 11, 2009
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  8. BlueApollo

    BlueApollo Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    In related news, Dan Rafael's belt is still holding out for more of the purse.
     
    BlueApollo, Aug 11, 2009
    BlueApollo, Aug 11, 2009
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  9. Marquez

    Marquez Guest

    Respected columnist??? :blurp WTF!
     
    Marquez, Aug 11, 2009
    Marquez, Aug 11, 2009
    #9