Face me at 147 for WBO title, Cotto tells Pacquiao

MANILA -- Miguel Cotto said that he would only agree to stake his World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title against Manny Pacquiao if they agree to fight at 147 pounds.

In a report by MB.com.ph (Manila Bulletin), Cotto said that Pacquiao would have to fight as a true welterweight if he wants the 147-pound title.

“If Pacquiao wants that the fight be for the title, (it) will have to be in 147 pounds. I won the title in that, the welterweight (division) and that is 147 pounds,” the Puerto Rican champion said in the report.

Should the WBO insist on making the Pacquiao-Cotto match a title match at 145 pounds, the Puerto Rican said he will not hesitate to surrender the title.

“The OMB (WBO) has the legal authority to dismiss me as champion and gladly I deliver them the title. (WBO president) PacoValccel, better than nobody, knows that the 145 pounds is not a division,” said Cotto.

Pacquiao is pushing to make his November 14 date with Cotto a title fight in his bid to become a seven-division champion.

“Sa pamamagitan ng pag-sanction ng WBO sa laban namin, mangyayaring magkaroon ako ng tsansa na maging isang seven-division champion, na hindi pa nangyayari sa kasaysayan ng boxing,” the Filipino boxing icon said in his column “Kumbinasyon” posted on Philboxing.com.

Pacquiao, the reigning IBO junior welterweight champion, is a former WBC lightweight champion, WBC Super Featherweight champion, IBF Super Bantamweight champion and WBC Flyweight champion.

He also won lineal championships in four weight classes, one of which was counted as a title he won over Marco Antonio Barrera.
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Why Pacquiao can’t train long on US soil

Manny Pacquiao stands to pay millions in taxes to the Internal Revenue Service of the US if he insists in holding his entire training camp for the November 14 fight with Miguel Cotto on American soil.

Owing to an IRS regulation called the Substantial Presence Test, Pacquiao has been told by Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum to spend the first half of his eight-week training camp outside the US to avoid shelling out “millions of dollars.”

Arum’s promotional outfit Top Rank is staging the Pacquiao-Cotto bout at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and the Harvard-educated lawyer has informed the Filipino that he ought to set up camp in the Bahamas, Mexico or Canada.

Arum said if Pacquiao insists on training exclusively on US territory just like in the past, his earnings will be subjected to taxes.

“All of his income from around the world will be subject to tax,” said Arum.

But if Pacquiao follows Arum’s advise, “just his purse for the fight (with Cotto) will be subject to tax.”

Pacquiao lawyer Franklin Gacal said they knew all along that the IRS would one day knock on their door.

“We’ve been told about this even before so we’re not surprised,” said Gacal, who is likewise setting his sights on Vancouver as an option to host Pacquiao’s training camp.

Meanwhile, Team Pacquiao will come out with an announcement regarding the on-going negotiations the moment Gacal confers with Arum.

“I have been given instructions by Manny on the matter,” said Gacal yesterday afternoon after efforts to contact Arum proved futile.

Meantime, Cotto told the Puerto Rican press that for him to defend the World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight crown, the fight with Pacquiao should be at 147 lbs, and not at a catch weight of 145 lbs.

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Pacquiao Poll: What course should Manny take?

By popular demand, as the Pacquiao Worldwide Army is on air raid alert, a White Gorilla poll of you the paying customers.

What should Manny Pacquiao do now:

a) Forget about 145 pounds, agree to fight Miguel Cotto for WBO title with 147 limit

b) Fight the Puerto Rican, hold to 145 pound limit, and don’t worry about the belt

c) Tell Cotto to stick it where the Boricua sun don’t shine and fight Shane Mosley at aqreed to contract weight of 140 up to 143 or 144.

d) Demand that Bob Arum make Cotto risk the title and keep to 145 pounds as verbally agreed to.

Post your vote on the Comments section under this article as my email mailbox is limited in space.
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Pacquiao doesn't need Cotto or his belt

Truth be told Manny Pacquiao does not need Miguel Cotto, nor his belt. Just based on both fighters' recent history, it should be Cotto crawling on all fours wanting to fight Pacquiao to revive his slumping career.

I don't know whether Cotto is posturing or is simply stubborn when he said he wouldn't put up his WBO welterweight belt against Pacquiao even if he had to vacate it. Fighting words from the gallant Puerto Rican, but why would Pacquiao care?

If that's the case then Cotto isn't really interested in the biggest payday and break of his career after all. If I was a Team Pacquiao adviser, I'd simply tell Manny to walk and explore his many other options.

Mosley is willing and waiting in the wings and would even go down to 140 and take 40% of the pot just to dance with Manny. Of course there's still the option of paying Marquez step-aside money as Floyd Mayweather Jr. himself suggested and get right down to business with "Money May". Or he can stay in his division and fight the winner of Timothy Bradley and Nate Campbell next week at the Agua Caliente Casino in Palm Springs. Call me T.I. because fact of the matter is Manny, "you can have whatever you like". Such are the rewards of being the best and most popular boxer in the planet. When Cotto actually locates his heart after Antonio Margarito beat the crap out of him and fighting the last four rounds of his controversial win against Joshua Clottey on skates, then he can start acting like a diva.

Really? He will vacate his title just so Pacquiao wouldn't be able to get a shot at it? That's simply disrespectful in my book. You wouldn't even give a much smaller person a shot at a belt he very well deserves if he beats you just because of two almost meaningless pounds? Even when it means you are to get the biggest payday of your career? Really?

Pacquiao did not invent title fights at a catch weight, in fact great boxers like Sugar Ray Leonard have done it before him in the past. The welterweight limit is from 141-147 pounds, the 147 is just the maximum weight they can come in at the weigh-ins. Realistically, Pacquiao is really that small compared to Cotto so the two pounds only makes it sensible. Just a year ago, even Bob Arum himself said imagining Pacquiao in the ring with Cotto was ludicrous and he simply could not see it happening. That was then, this is now. And now all of a sudden it's ridiculous for Pacquiao to ask for a title-fight for asking Cotto to come down 2 pounds?

Let's put things in proper perspective. Pacquiao does not need Cotto right now. Actually, Cotto is fortunate that he is getting all this attention and publicity after his ho-hum victories and devastating loss to Margarito. A lot of people even consider him damaged goods and actually lost to Clottey. That's not to say I agree with that, I personally feel Cotto is still one of the toughest fights for Pacquiao out there but it doesn't mean it's the best fight for him necessarily especially if it would be a beltless fight and if Cotto would go out of his way just to not make it a title-fight. Pacquiao can fight Mosley who is a better sell for American veiwers and Pay-Per-View buyers anyway. You also finally get to see Pacquiao fight an African-American boxer, one of the best at that, as some people have been clamoring for. I know I'm starting to sound like a broken record but Pacquiao got options... Pacquiao got options....Pac-paca-pac-pa-pac-pac got chiki-chiki op-tions... Pacquiao got op-o-o-options. Broken record, scratch, scribble, dice and transform it, whatever it takes to send the message. Got it? Good. (By the way shout out to my boy DJ QBert, one of the best skratch DJs to have ever lived)

Perhaps somebody whispered something behind Cotto's ear for him to be confident of whatever happens at the moment. It's almost as if he is willing to just finish up his contract with Top Rank against whoever and jump ship to Golden Boy where promised greener pastures await. It makes sense. De la Hoya could have very well guaranteed Cotto a shot at Mayweather or a rematch with Mosley with some serious dough in tow. Nobody really believes that all Cotto and De la Hoya did was a round of golf a couple of weeks ago.

That's besides the point however. Last time I checked, Pacquiao hasn't signed any papers to fight Cotto yet. Cotto is a good opponent but there are better options for Pacquiao out there if Cotto insists on playing hard-to-get. He can go for Mosley's belts at 143 if he wants to rather than negotiate with a fighter people consider as "damaged goods".
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MOSLEY: MY OFFER TO PACQUIAO STILL STANDS

Los Angeles, Ca:- Thursday night at the Club Nokia where Golden Boy Promotions held a fight card, I had an opportunity to ask Shane Mosley the proverbial question- “Do you have a message for Team Pacquiao?”.
Mosley, with his ever charming smile said, “Tell them, what I offered are still on the table. The ball is in their court.”

With what is recently being reported on various news outlets regarding the still unsigned contract between Coto and Pacquiao, plus all the petty politics behind the scene, surely a Pacquiao-Mosley can still happen in November.

It’s potentially a more dangerous fight for Pacquiao, but at least many of the advantages that Team Pacquiao seeks from the Coto camp will be there.

But they really worth it? It depends who you ask.

First, there is the belt, an item that is so necessary (contrary to Arum’s statement that “no one cares about it”) to cement the legacy of Pacquiao as the greatest boxer in our generation.

No man has ever had belts in 7 different divisions. Pacquiao has that enviable position to do just that with a win and a belt in the welterweight division.

Second, the issue about weight will no longer be there. Unlike Cotto who insist on a 145 lbs fight contract, Mosley is willing to meet Pacquiao at any “catch-weight” between 141 and 147”, the “recognized welterweight weight range.”

Third, Mosley is willing to take a great purse cut. Even a mere 40% is acceptable to him.

Not too many boxers holding a belt will accept such a purse split if their belt is on the line.

Fourth, although not much has been said about it, the sanctioning fee may not be an issue as much as it is with Coto.

Fifth, for whatever it is worth, a Pacquiao victory over Mosley will be a whole lot more meaningful that one over Cotto.

Cotto according to some may still be dangerous, but he is “damaged goods.”

The beating he took from Margarito took its toll and that certainly showed when he fought Joshua Clottey. He barely escaped with a win. Some said he even lost that fight. Therefore, a victory over Mosley will uplift the Pacquiao legacy as the best “poud4pound boxer” even more than one over Cotto.

So why not just put up a Pacquiao-Mosley instead?

Well, that is easily said than done.

Boxing is a business first and entertainment, second.

The old man Bob prefers a Pacquiao-Cotto because it will be to his sole advantage.

He has both Pacquiao and Cotto under his wings so it goes to reason that if the two will agree to fight, Arum makes tons of cash.

On top of that, if Cotto can have the fight on his terms, he may be persuaded to re-sign with Arum. Read:- more money for the old sly fox.

On the other side of the coin, if the fight is between Pacquiao and Sugar Shane, then Arum must share the loot with the Golden Boy Promotions.

Certainly, if he can avoid that, Arum will go long ways to do so.

With what is played out on the media, Arum may not have the next Pacquiao fight totally his. He may be forced to share it with his arch nemesis, GBP.

Ouch!

The fact that he announced the Pacquiao–Cotto bout prematurely and sans signed contracts shows that Arum is again up to his usual tricks of the trade. If nothing else, it kept the Mayweather-Marquez off the news front. But it appears that Arun may have bitten more than he can chew and if he has to spit it out, GBP will come out the winner. So will Mosley.

As for Pacquiao, no matter what, he still wins.

Thus, a Pacquiao-Mosley could still happen in November.

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Manny Pacquiao: Destined to be Champion of All Champions

Now that the WBO welterweight title of Miguel Cotto will be put on the line on his battle on November 14 against Manny Pacquiao, the Pacman can now focus on building his legacy as the Champion of all champions " the opportunity to become the first ever pugilist to win 7 titles in 7 different divisions.

Although the fight contract has not been signed yet by either fighter, Top Rank`s big honcho Bob Arum already confirmed that the fight would be contested at 145 lbs. and yes, it is now a title bout.
Pacquiao must now keep his eyes on the prize as this will surely seal his legacy as the world`s most elite prizefighter. Cotto is a tough foe to defeat but with proper training and uninterrupted preparation, the Pacman can definitely make history once again on November 14 by handing the Boricua Bomber his second loss in his professional career.
A win by Pacquiao will catapult him to pound for pound supremacy even over his heir-apparent, the former pound for pound Lord Floyd Mayweather, Jr., who is scheduled to do battle with Juan Manuel Marquez on September 19 in a non-title welterweight match. Providing that Pacquiao and Mayweather come out victorious on their separate scheduled matches against rugged and talented oppositions in Cotto and Marquez, respectively, a clash between these two pound for pound warriors looms in the horizon. By then, the boxing world will surely find out who is the real King of boxing " the authentic cash cow of the undying sport of the Sweet Science.

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Pacquiao Wants Cotto Fined $1 Million Per Pound Over the Limit? – News

By Manuel Perez: Not only will Manny Pacquiao be getting the bigger cut of the revenue and having Miguel Cotto’s WBO title on the line at a catch weight of 145 instead of the normal welterweight limit of 147, but he also reportedly wants Cotto to be penalized a whopping $1 million per pound that the Puerto Rican fighter comes in over the 145 pound catch weight that Pacquiao and his trainer Freddie Roach have set for Cotto for the November 14th bout at the MGM Grand, in Las Vegas, Nevada, according to Nick Giongco from MB.com. Giongco reports that Pacquiao wants the “a penalty of $1 million per pound” that Cotto comes in over the 145 pound catch weight. (http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/212734/pacquiao-wants-cotto-fined-excess-pounds).

Cotto, 28, could make as much as $10 million for the fight on the high end of the scale, Giongco writes, but with potentially hefty fines for every pound that Cotto comes in over the weight, he could in theory end up getting much less than that.

In contrast, Pacquiao is guaranteed to make a minimum of $12 million but will likely make much more than that by the time the ticket sales and Pay per view figures are final. But if Cotto ends up getting fined an absurd $1 million per pound over the limit, Pacquiao could make out like a fat rat while Cotto ends up going hungry.

I thought the business about Cotto having to put up his WBO welterweight title at 145 was a stinker, but this pretty much takes the whole cake. I hope this doesn’t take effect because that would be an enormous fine tilted in the favor of Pacquiao.

The Filipino already has everything else in his favor – weight, revenue split of 65-35, gloves, location and likely Cotto’s WBO title on the line – but this is going a bit too far. Cotto is the champion here, not Pacquiao. Who cares if Pacquiao has won titles in six different divisions in the past?

Pacquiao became popular recently when he defeated a shot and weight drained Oscar De La Hoya, and a war scarred Ricky Hatton. I tell you, if you put another fighter in the same position as Pacquiao, say Juan Manuel Marquez, he likely would have done the same thing that Pacquiao did and he would be the one getting the glory right now and not Pacquiao.

It’s all about Pacquiao fighting the right people at the right time. He already got boxed silly by Marquez twice previously and should have lost both fights in the minds of many boxing fans. Pacquiao hasn’t shown much interest in fighting Marquez a third time after winning a terribly controversial bout last year where Pacquiao defeated Marquez by a 12 round split decision.

So Pacquiao goes from that fight into bouts against three vulnerable fighters – David Diaz, Oscar De La Hoya and Ricky Hatton – and all of a sudden Pacquiao is vaulted into the status of a pound for pound number #1 fighter in the minds of some.

I put it to you. If you put Marquez in with the same three fighters that Pacquiao fought, he would have likely won each one of those fights and proved that what Pacquiao accomplished was no big deal. It’s like the mineral pyrite, which is what is also referred to as ‘fools gold.’

It has the same yellow luster as real gold to the naked eye, fooling people not knowledgeable about mining but to professional miner, they know the difference immediately and aren’t fooled one bit. Well, I’m the miner and I’m telling you I can see a lot of fool’s gold in what Pacquiao has recently accomplished with victories over De La Hoya and Hatton and it’s sad that he’s being thought of as the pound for pound number #1 fighter in boxing while a talent like Marquez goes ignored.

As for the $1 million dollar fine per pound, if it does exist, Cotto needs to put his foot down and tell Pacquiao and Roach what they can do with their penalty. While Cotto is at it, he should stick to his guns and not put his WBO title on the line unless Pacquiao agrees to have the fight take place at the normal welterweight limit of 147 instead of the handicapping weight of 145. If Pacquiao is afraid to fight at 147, so be it. Pacquiao can then go hunt down another alternative like David Diaz or one of Pacquiao’s other quality opponents.

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