Miguel Cotto and Manny Pacquiao are bigger than the WBO

All of the drama surrounding the WBO's intervention into the Miguel Cotto-Manny Pacquiao contract negotiation was pathetic and pure madness. I appreciate that many of you want to see Manny try for a record seventh world title. I do too, but the title issue, which I understand has been resolved, was an afterthought. Money and catch weight drove this thing initially--period.

The World Boxing Organization wanted it to be a title shot because it technically is a fight that will occur within the welterweight limit and the entity stands to make a good chunk of change. Fine. What if the two fighters had contracted to meet at 141 instead of 145? The WBO template still exists since it is above the junior welterweight limit. Mandatory title fight? The better question may be what if Cotto weighs-in at 147 instead of 145? Most certainly such would breach the Pacquiao contract; however, he would absolutely be in compliance with WBO rules regarding maximum weight for welterweights.

The reality is that the World Boxing Organization turned on its champion and the most blatant example is making Manny Pacquiao the number one challenger in order to force Miguel's hand. The WBC doesn't have Manny ranked at welterweight. There is no Pacquiao listed at 147lbs on the IBF ratings board. How about the WBA? Negative. The Ring? Nope. The WBO didn't even have Manny on its radar screen at welterweight until this month. I could be wrong, but I believe the WBO did the same thing when David Haye-Wladimir Klitschko was still an option.

The Cotto-Pacquiao bout in November is going to be an all time classic and it was going to be that way whether or not the WBO played a role. The fact that the title is on the line now though means that it may have historical significance. It is highly unlikely that Manny will defend the title if he is able to secure it, well at least not at the full 147lb weight limit and certainly not against whoever the number one challenger may be (Joshua Clottey is currently ranked number 2). My guess is that if Floyd Mayweather, Jr. can get past Juan Manuel Marquez next month, he will come out of nowhere to be the WBO's number 1 welterweight contender (Mayweather is not currently ranked by the WBO).

Manny Pacquiao beat Oscar De La Hoya into retirement and has most likely done the same to Ricky Hatton. He won't accomplish that against Miguel Cotto. Win, lose, or draw and Miguel will still be a force within the welterweight division. He doesn't need a title to justify anything, let alone the WBO title. Neither does Manny. Both men are bigger than any championship strap.

If Manny wins in November, my hope is that he will raise the belt and then hand it to the WBO president, Francisco Valcarcel. If Miguel wins, then my hope is that he gives it to Bob Arum for picking up the sanctioning fees required by the WBO. The belt will make a touching parting gift between Cotto and Arum. Cotto can then go get his old WBA belt back from Shane Mosley.
source: examner.com