Cotto's welterweight belt is on the line!!!

[Pavlik]

Cotto's strap up for grabs by Manny Pacquiao

Cotto's strap up for grabs by Manny Pacquiao



July 24, 3:13 PM



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EA Sports/Associated Press

EXAMINER.COM EXCLUSIVE REPORT:
Francisco “Paco” Valcarcel, lawyer and president of the World Boxing Organization, is not tone deaf.

Valcarcel has heard the cry from the millions of Manny Pacquiao fans and those who devoutly follow the fistic fortunes of Boricua Bomber Miguel Angel Cotto.

As I reported, Cotto has thought he could hold the WBO welterweight title hostage and use it as a blackjack on the head of the Pacquiao-Cotto Nov. 14 promoter Bob Arum.

I caught up with Valcarcel as he was going through airport security somewhere and we had a brief conversation Friday afternoon.

Whatever happens in Cotto’s money play with Top Rank’s top dog, Valcarcel said that Pacquiao fans, Cotto fans and fight fans in general can relax.

“I know that Manny is looking to make boxing history. I can appreciate that as he goes after the very tough Cotto for a seventh weight division world title,” Valcarcel said.

“You can tell all the people right now, the WBO title will be on the line. You’ve got a highly respected champion fighting the Number One contender. It would be ridiculous for this not to be for the title.

“No matter what happens, I assure you that this will be a WBO welterweight title fight. End of story.”

Yes, you can say, well Paco is a boxing politician. That much is true.

But, unlike many politicians, he has his finger on the pulse of the people.

Good call, El Presidente.

[skel1983]

Not really bothered to be honest not like Manny will be defending it if he wins.

[ElTerribleMorales]

this is bullshit, if Manny wants a title as a welterweight it better be at welterweight, i was fine with the catchweight bullshit as long as the title was left out, i thought it was bullshit when Leonard did it, think it's bullshit now, hope Pacquiao gets ko'd brutally

[Pavlik]

this is bullshit, if Manny wants a title as a welterweight it better be at welterweight, i was fine with the catchweight bullshit as long as the title was left out, i thought it was bullshit when Leonard did it, think it's bullshit now, hope Pacquiao gets ko'd brutally

so you hatin on delahoya too, he did it against hopkins

kinda unfair pac risking his p4p status for nothing vs a much larger man. i hope Pac gets his 7th div world title and keep that record for at least 100 years

[ElTerribleMorales]

this is bullshit, if Manny wants a title as a welterweight it better be at welterweight, i was fine with the catchweight bullshit as long as the title was left out, i thought it was bullshit when Leonard did it, think it's bullshit now, hope Pacquiao gets ko'd brutally

so you hatin on delahoya too, he did it against hopkins

kinda unfair pac risking his p4p status for nothing vs a much larger man. i hope Pac gets his 7th div world title and keep that record for at least 100 years

i said that the DLH/B-Hop fight was pointless as well in another thread, and putting up his p4p status? wtf you're acting like it's a sanctioning body on it's own...

[KananKrus]

The fight should be at 147, for the purists. Regardless of the weight limit for the fight, Pac will still come in very light at around 142-143. Weight wise, surely disadvantaged. Cotto supporters can surely appreciate the risk that Pacman's staking here, just so that every boxing fan can be offered a decent fight. A mega fight.

However to some...

Nah! Pac is a cheater, dehydrator, and manipulator... or is he really! Whichever side of the fence you are on I guess.

Pacquiao is helping the sport of boxing a lot at the tills, I'd say!

[skel1983]

The fight should be at 147, for the purists. Regardless of the weight limit for the fight, Pac will still come in very light at around 142-143. Weight wise, surely disadvantaged. Cotto supporters can surely appreciate the risk that Pacman's staking here, just so that every boxing fan can be offered a decent fight. A mega fight.

However to some...

Nah! Pac is a cheater, dehydrator, and manipulator... or is he really! Whichever side of the fence you are on I guess.

Pacquiao is helping the sport of boxing a lot at the tills, I'd say!

Id also say hes also helping himself at the tills.

[ElTerribleMorales]

The fight should be at 147, for the purists. Regardless of the weight limit for the fight, Pac will still come in very light at around 142-143. Weight wise, surely disadvantaged. Cotto supporters can surely appreciate the risk that Pacman's staking here, just so that every boxing fan can be offered a decent fight. A mega fight.

However to some...

Nah! Pac is a cheater, dehydrator, and manipulator... or is he really! Whichever side of the fence you are on I guess.

Pacquiao is helping the sport of boxing a lot at the tills, I'd say!

give me a break, only time i said Pac fought a dehydrated fighter was against DLH and whoever tries to dispute that FACT is a fool, manipulator, well he has been manipulating the whole catchweight bullshit so that it favors him more than in trying to make it an even fight, did it against Mosley and now Cotto, i give him credit for his win against Hatton, it was against the best fighter at 140, and regardless what others might say i don't think Hatton really has any excuse to why he lost, he was making weight comfortably, and constantly reminded everyone how he was undefeated at 140, but the way people try to make Manny seem like he can walk on water a shit gold is ridiculous, Pacquiao isn't saving boxing so give up, boxing has never really been in danger regardless of what some may say, you don't go around paying fighters 15 million minimum for every fight (DeLaHoya) if the fight itself isn't making money

[leftylee]

The fight should be at 147, for the purists. Regardless of the weight limit for the fight, Pac will still come in very light at around 142-143. Weight wise, surely disadvantaged. Cotto supporters can surely appreciate the risk that Pacman's staking here, just so that every boxing fan can be offered a decent fight. A mega fight.

However to some...

Nah! Pac is a cheater, dehydrator, and manipulator... or is he really! Whichever side of the fence you are on I guess.

Pacquiao is helping the sport of boxing a lot at the tills, I'd say!

give me a break, only time i said Pac fought a dehydrated fighter was against DLH and whoever tries to dispute that FACT is a fool, manipulator, well he has been manipulating the whole catchweight bullshit so that it favors him more than in trying to make it an even fight, did it against Mosley and now Cotto, i give him credit for his win against Hatton, it was against the best fighter at 140, and regardless what others might say i don't think Hatton really has any excuse to why he lost, he was making weight comfortably, and constantly reminded everyone how he was undefeated at 140, but the way people try to make Manny seem like he can walk on water a shit gold is ridiculous, Pacquiao isn't saving boxing so give up, boxing has never really been in danger regardless of what some may say, you don't go around paying fighters 15 million minimum for every fight (DeLaHoya) if the fight itself isn't making money

You cant seriously say Cotto will be dehydrated at 145.

He weighed in 146 in his last fight. Another pound lighter aint gonna do a lot of harm.

[Howlin Mad Missy]

this is bullshit, if Manny wants a title as a welterweight it better be at welterweight, i was fine with the catchweight bullshit as long as the title was left out, i thought it was bullshit when Leonard did it, think it's bullshit now, hope Pacquiao gets ko'd brutally

so you hatin on delahoya too, he did it against hopkins

kinda unfair pac risking his p4p status for nothing vs a much larger man. i hope Pac gets his 7th div world title and keep that record for at least 100 years

you know that isn't real don't you? It's just made up by boxing hacks and certain fans? If Cotto wins he doesn't become the p4p king.

[Gandalf]

this is bullshit, if Manny wants a title as a welterweight it better be at welterweight, i was fine with the catchweight bullshit as long as the title was left out, i thought it was bullshit when Leonard did it, think it's bullshit now, hope Pacquiao gets ko'd brutally

Agreed. It is bullshit.

I wasn't so endeared with the catch-weight and now this! Disgusting!

[Kev]

Great news for Manny and for all boxing fans who prefer the actual fights over bearuocratic nonsense.

This will be an historic event with Manny fighting to be the first seven weight world champion in the history of boxing.

Of course a few whiners will moan and argue that Cotto should be stripped and that the well known and respected Antonin Decaire take on Rafal Jackiewicz for the vacant strap but for those of us unburdened by cares of technical rulings regarding fighters weighing two pounds under the max limit we can enjoy a proper good tearup.

[Conrad]

Great news for Manny and for all boxing fans who prefer the actual fights over bearuocratic nonsense.

This will be an historic event with Manny fighting to be the first seven weight world champion in the history of boxing.

Of course a few whiners will moan and argue that Cotto should be stripped and that the well known and respected Antonin Decaire take on Rafal Jackiewicz for the vacant strap but for those of us unburdened by cares of technical rulings regarding fighters weighing two pounds under the max limit we can enjoy a proper good tearup.

I couldn't agree with Bilbo more!

It's 2 pounds FFS. Cotto is happy with it, Manny is happy with it and so is the WBO. It's a perfectly legitimate WW fight and I for one can't wait to see it!

[Howlin Mad Missy]

Great news for Manny and for all boxing fans who prefer the actual fights over bearuocratic nonsense.

This will be an historic event with Manny fighting to be the first seven weight world champion in the history of boxing.

Of course a few whiners will moan and argue that Cotto should be stripped and that the well known and respected Antonin Decaire take on Rafal Jackiewicz for the vacant strap but for those of us unburdened by cares of technical rulings regarding fighters weighing two pounds under the max limit we can enjoy a proper good tearup.

except there is no weight class with a limit of 145 so it's total BS.

[ClubberLang]

this is bullshit, if Manny wants a title as a welterweight it better be at welterweight, i was fine with the catchweight bullshit as long as the title was left out, i thought it was bullshit when Leonard did it, think it's bullshit now, hope Pacquiao gets ko'd brutally

It is a welterweight fight. By definition, anything over 140 up to 147 is a welterweight fight.