First off let me begin by saying. Manny Pacquiao is the best fighter on the planet. Bar none. I also think he is the best fighter of the last 20 years. All that being said, this nonsense going on with the WBO and Miguel Cotto is just flat out ridiculous. First off, Cotto is the WBO champion. He has the belt, so if he wants to defend it at 147 pounds, instead of 145 pound then that should be respected by the sanctioning body. Also how in the heck did Manny Pacquiao become the number 1 contender for the WBO Welterweight crown? Last I checked he just won the Jr. Welterweight title by crushing Ricky Hatton. By the WBO standards, Bernard Hopkins should be the number 1 contender for their Heavyweight crown, and Shane Mosley should be the number 1 challenger against Kelly Pavlik for the Middleweight title. Let it be noted too, the Manny Pacquiao camp turned down Shane Mosley at 144 or 143 pounds, when Mosley was more then willing to defend his WBA Welterweight Crown. I have no problem Pacquiao fighting Cotto for the WBO crown. But fighting the champion has to be on Cotto’s terms when it comes to his belt.
WBO = Joke
How did Manny Pacquiao all of of sudden become the #1 contender for the WBO Welterweight crown over Joshua Clottey. Didn’t Clottey just pretty much fight the champion even up? Isn’t Pacquiao the Champion at JR. WELTERWEIGHT? Pacquiao’s last fight was at Jr. Welterweight.
No matter what you think of Pacquiao. I think the world of him. This really makes no sense at all. The WBO should give people a reason why they have all of sudden have Pacquiao the number 1 challenger to their champion, when the fact is Pacquiao is not a Welterweight.
I have no problem with Cotto and Pacquiao being a title fight. After all all it is a superfight. But for the WBO to have Pacquiao the number 1 contender when he fought only 1 fight at Welterweight in his career. It just doesn’t make sense.
145 or 147
I have been on record as saying that Pacquiao dictates the terms. He should on everything except one thing. That is the WBO title itself. If Miguel Cotto wants to only defend the title at 147 and not 145. It is his title so that should be what happens. And if the WBO steps in and vacates the title so only allows Pacquiao to win it, that is no right. In it would in my mind that would make it a tainted title.
If Manny Pacquiao was so worried about titles why did he not fight Shane Mosley for a more legitmate title, Mosley’s WBA title at 144 or 143. Mosley has more lineal claim then Cotto right now. Mosley was on record to saying he would defend his title at a catchweight, yet his challenge was never answered. If Manny beats Cotto, which I think he will, this will not be the the equivilent to Henry Armstrong beating Barney Ross in the the 1930’s. The only time a featherweight champion won the Welterweight crown. Ask yourself this, did Armstrong dictate the the terms of Ross’s crown? It will be more like Oscar De La Hoya winning the Middleweight Crown against Felix Sturm if Pacquiao wins a vacated WBO crown.
Who needs the WBO Title anyway
Manny Pacquiao does not need the WBO title. I repeat, Manny Pacquiao does not need the WBO title. If Miguel Cotto doesn’t want to defend the title at 145. Then Pacquiao should either say, OK I don’t need it. I will fight you anyway. Or he should say, OK I will fight you at 147 for the title.
I have nothing but respect for Manny Pacquiao. He is a great ambassador to the sport and a fantastic fighter. But winning a 7th title in a 7th division, should not have a question mark around it. It should have an exclamtion mark.
Bet Bradley
There is a fight this weekend to see who the 2nd best fighter is at Jr. Welterweight. And it should be a good one. Undefeated titlist Timothy Bradley will be taking on former Lightweight titlist Nate Campbell Saturday August 1st on Showtime.
I think this will be an excellent action fight. With Bradley winning by a decision. He is younger and better. Nothing more to add to that
