Cotto: “If Pacquiao Wants a Title for the Fight, It Will Have to Be at 147″
July 31st, 2009
By Manuel Perez: If Manny Pacquiao wants a chance at World Boxing Organization welterweight champion Miguel Cotto’s WBO title, then Manny’s going to have to grow a pair and put on another two pounds to make the fight at the normal 147 pound limit of the welterweight division rather than his 145 pound catch weight business because Cotto is refusing to put his WBO title on the line for their November 14th fight unless Pacquiao comes in at the normal weight.
Cotto agreed to Pacquiao’s wishes to have the fight take place at a 145 pound catch weight, so that Pacquiao, the smaller fighter, could have a little handicap in then fight. But Cotto didn’t agree to put his WBO title on the line, which I totally agree with.
I mean, Cotto can’t give everything up if he’s already giving in by taking the smaller cut of the PPV revenue, coming in at a lower 145 pound catch weight. By having his WBO belt on the line at the lower weight, just seems wrong. If Pacquiao wants the title, let him put on a couple of pounds and take Cotto on at the regulation weight of 147 instead of trying to have things his own way.
There’s talk that the WBO might pressure Cotto to put the title on the line by threatening to strip him of his title unless he puts it on the line for the fight. The WBO already has said that they’re okay with the title being on the line at the lower 145 pound weight rather than 147. It’s very peculiar how the WBO would choose to bend their rules like this, but oh well, this is boxing for you.
However, Cotto is saying that he’ll vacate the WBO title if they try to force him to put it on the line for the fight. Freddie Roach, Pacquiao’s trainer, is unhappy with all this and thinks that the fight has little meaning unless the title is on the line. I doubt that he really believes this because it sounds like he’s just trying to placate the wishes of Pacquiao, knowing how much he wants to try and pick up this trinket.
It looks like Pacquiao is going to have to make a decision. Either he fights Cotto at the normal weight for the welterweight division at 147, or he fights the bout without the title being on the line. I have pretty good guess what Pacquiao will do. No way will he take the fight at 147, because I think Cotto will give Pacquiao problems if the bout is held at the full welterweight limit.
I think Cotto is going to beat him anyway, but without the gimmick of the 145 catch weight slowing Cotto down by weakening him, he’s going to destroy Pacquiao in quick fashion. Of course, that was a pretty much shot De La Hoya and not a prime Cotto.
Cotto is a proud warrior and he doesn’t care if he’s stripped of his title. He fights on principal and I have a massive amount of respect for this warrior. It’s like they want Cotto to have his title on the line with a handicap of Cotto fighting the bout on his knees with one hand tied behind his back. No one really cares about the title anyway except for boxing fans that are into the status thing.
Tags: 47 Responses to “Cotto: “If Pacquiao Wants a Title for the Fight, It Will Have to Be at 147″”
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cotto will be ready for this one thats a fackt. why? i’ll tell u why 1. everybody is sleeping on cotto because of his last performaces. 2. pacquiao knocked de la hoja n hatton out. 3. pacquiao is so confident that he’s going to win. thats why he going to start training in the 2 week of september when cotto started training already. 4. pac is the P4P king 5. pac is getting more money. 6.freddy is putting cotto down n thinks pac is going to win this fight easly. at last cotto is going to fight the P4P king. when mayweather was p4p king he was making up diferent kind of esxuces to fight cotto. now that everyone is putting pac so hi n cotto so low cotto have someting to pruve. that he is not a slauch like everybody thinks he is. thats why he is going to be ready for this one.thats why everybody. mark my words. this is not going to be easy for pacquiao. pac please stop sleeping n start training.
everybody. the comentadors mayweather is saying that cotto is going to loose the fight with pacquiao. everyone is sleeping on cotto because of his last performeces.but cotto knows this fight is the most important fight in his carrier. and belive me he will be ready for this one. lets remember this. when trinidad was knocking everybody out in diferent weight clases what happend he whent up to 160 and everybody was sleeping on B.HOP because of his last performences was not like trinidad. and what hapend? B.HOP shock the world. and that is the samething cotto is going to do hes going to shock the world.
did cotto earn his belt? or was it a gift? he fought clotty for the belt at 146 not 147 so was he scared of clotty? he fought michael jennings for the vacant belt and jennings is a nobody. if cotto doesn’t put his title on the line and loses to pacquiao. his his next title fight will be meaningless.
Cotto would tan Pacquiao’s arse at 147, I still think at 145 he’ll beat Pacquiao. He has amazing power, good speed, a lot of inteligence and can take a lot of big shots.
A good argunment Blackfoot but not the most solid one. First, the weigh in was put back from the same day to allow for the rehydration etc, which should normally be 3-5 lbs. Fighters were getting killed to make weight.
However, if a fighter really is having problems with that leeway, they should move up tp the next level. That is why they have divisions.
But as we know, athletes will try to squeeze out the most they can to get an edge, eben if means it will hurt them innthe short and long term. I do agree that the limit is 147 and he should be allowed to fight there, but we have to see what contract they signed. We are debating stuff that we have not seen and may never see, like Floyd fighting a live welter. had to get that in. Haha!
Seems to be a lot of misunderstanding on this one.
The welterwight limit is 147lb, Miguel Cotto, in fact a lot of welterweight fighters DO NOT FIGHT AT 147lb. Come fight night, fighters will usually weigh 156lb or more after rehydration, i.e at they’re NATURAL weight. Thats right people, fighters CUT weight to make the limit and then put it back on for the fight. However, some fighters struggle to cut the weight and aren’t fighting at optimum if they have to cut too much weight and put it back on again – See Oscal DLH.
So if a fighter is asked to cut an extra 2lb and he struggles to make 147lb anyway why should he put his title on the line if he’s disadvantaged.
Seems to me like Pacman is willing to fight the bigger stronger dude, as long as he has a handicap. Your putting yourself up as a challenger, you should fight the champion on equal terms not say “yeah I’ll fight you, but only if…”
Lame, if the boot was on the other foot I struggle to see Cotto using the same tactics.
Why should Cotto make all the sacrifices? if Pac wants the belt it’s at 147, if he wants it at 145 then Cotto takes a 50/50 split of the purse? he can’t have it all his own way, like Perez says, why doesn’t miguel fight pacman on his knees with one eye closed, I like Pacman he seems like a decent guy, a gentleman, but he also seems like a stubborn child demanding everything, Cotto by KO in the 7th
Although I believe that Perez has milked this by slanting the facts, as usual. However, I will go on record as agreeing with him. I am one of the biggest Pac fans on this site and believe that no matter what, he will find a way to win as great ones always do. Cotto’s good but Manny’s great!
Oscar set the terms as he was the cash cow. But he was a 154 lber although his last fight vs Forbes was at 150, therefore he only had to come down 3 lbs. Manny agreed to the 147 Oscar offered because he wanted the biggest payday of his life. Everyone said Oscar was being unfair but he who has the keys can make rules. If you think that’s not fair check with your wife/girlfriend.
She has what we want (a puss) so she makes them up as we go along. Cotto will make the most money ever. He did not have to accept the fight and if it was not in the contract, he does not have to accept it. He could demand more $, which he will. But as long as the fight is within the 147 range the WBO can offically call it a title fight.
This is not bending rules, that is enforcing them cuz they did not set the 145 contracted weight, that is between the fighters. Cotto has 3 optons, 1, demand more $ the likeliest option, 2, accept it as a title or 3. not fight and sue for breach of contract. I have no problems with him doing any one.
Manny should let him fight at 147 or just cancel and fight Bradley or Alexander. Yes I said cancel it and fight one of these two no names! See no one likes that option and neither do I. In boxing the one with the keys (puss) makes the rules. However, he must back it up in the ring. As Ali used to say, I would fight you in your own home with your family as judges because they can’t get in the ring with you and they can’t stop me from whupping you.
So fellow Pac fans, let’s be fair and ask him to do the right thing and let Cotto have his 2 extra lbs. There will still be two hits; Pac hits him and he hits the canvas, only with the 2 extra lbs he will hit the canvas harder.
Heart, strategy, speed and power will decide this fight. Cotto has just as much heart and probably more power but strategy and speed are Manny’s and will make the difference. People want to see this fight, not JMM?PBF which will get cancelled again but for good due to lack of interest.
great post carts… here are the risks for the fight:
cotto:
1.catchweight, 145
2.less money
3.wbo belt (147 lb. belt)
pacqiao:
1.0 risks
now do people see how much of a fraud pacquiao is?
Pacman need to put those 2LB on if he wants the title, it’s only fair.
He want Cotto to have less share of PPV
He want Cotto to be underweight
what else: Maybe he wants Cotto’s manhood as well?!
Cotto want to fight pacman, not the other way round!
I agree tho, if its for a welter weight title, then Cotto should be entitled to come in at any weight up to 147.
ODLH suggested he come in at 147 against Pacman, who came in at 142 anyway!
So dont make out like its Pacman placing all these demands on fighters!
You think Cotto would prefer to fight Mosley again at 147 for half the cash he will get by dropping 1lb and fighting Pacquaio instead!? exactly, why would you take a fight for 1 million dollars for example, if another man is offering your 2 million to fight?
It aint rocket science.
Whatta?! Welterweight limit is 147. It could be somewhere from 141-147 lbs. If the the agreed WW fight is at 145, then so be it, but it is a welterweight fight. These are the best boxer’s in this weight right now. Put the belt on the line to make the bout special as it is. No excuses!
I dont think Pacmans P4P belt is on the line, i wont see Cotto as P4P king if he beats him.
I think people are sorta losing the idea of what moving up the weights is.
In my opinion Pacman has moved up the weights and not demanding catchweights really well but at anything over 140 hes strugglin and has both times asked for comprimises from his oppoants.
This says to me that 140 is as far as he can go, usually boxers who do this would stay at Lightwelter or maybe even go back down. Pacman is sorta making a new weight where he gets his opponants to meet him in the middle.
It makes good fights and makes lots of money but its an inbetween weight. And theres no title there.
GREAT ARTICLE. Pacman fas are saying that it can be a belt match because its on the ww range (141-147) but the tittle holder is the one that said the wight limit then, not the challenger. Cotto is taking the smaller cut, if i where cotto i put the belt on line with just 1 thing, GIVE ME MORE MONEY. i think the split is 65 for pac and 35 for cotto, if im wrong please correct me, if pac whants the tittle gime at lest a 45 not less. and if pac dont want to give more money then let him fight at 147. Cotto agreed to pacman wishes to fight at a catchweigh, and agree with the split, why the frikin cross eye filiino cant agree with NO TITTLE if he win he will make history aniways, so why he cant be humble and accept the fight. i dont respect pacman anymore because of his hunger and his not a humble guy anymore, he knows that all boxers want to fight him and takes advantage on this. But with Cotto the history wont be the same, Cotto has a lot of patience, if pacman dont agree with the terms then cotto wont fight. Cotto have a lot of boxing in him he have at least 4 or 5 mega fights, or big fights choices.
danny – i agree with you for this statement,
’4. you always mention the disadvantages in losing weight, but you never ever mention the disadvantages in gaining more weights.’
However, you claim pacquiao did not demand the 145lbs catchweight. Why would Cotto automatically want the fight at 145lbs, when the WW limit is 147lbs, and his natural weight?
The reason the bout is at 145lbs is because pacman wanted it to be held at 143lbs. Cotto, wanting the bout will have suggested 145lbs as his limit.
No title should be up for grabs as it is a catchweight within the WW limit, and not the full range of 141-147lbs!
manuel, i guess you have lack of information,
1. ww is within 141-147 lbs. and depends on both fighters agreed. (better read and search for WBO boxing rules). it means that, any weight from 141-147 is a natural welterweight.
2. i guess you don’t want your grade school son to fight a high school guy unless they have the same weight. if manny weigh 141 and cotto weigh 147 on the weigh in, can you imagine, how big is the weight difference in the fight night? if pacquiao lose, would you write in this column that pacquiao lose bcoz he is very small? i guess not. if pacquiao wins, is it very insulting for cotto beaten by a very small guy? i guess you will never write it either.
3. pacquiao did not demand the 145, its cotto. pacquiao’s demand is 143 but he give what cotto wants. in any way, if cotto wont fight at 145,he should demand at the very beginning that he want 147. is really the weight is the issue here? why is cotto agreed to fight in 145?
4. you always mention the disadvantages in losing weight, but you never ever mention the disadvantages in gaining more weights. it is really obvious here that you want to see pacquiao lose in any way. i guess it is ok for you even cotto cheats just to see manny lose the fight. what a hate!!!
5. manny’s p4p belt is on the line, why cant cotto? is he sure that he will lose the fight? then why fight anyway?
i wish in your next column, you will answer all my question
Pacquiao will KO chicken cotto in 2 rounds even at 147 lbs. Put the Title on the line and stop making excuses.
Uk- I like your statement about sporting achievement over cash….shame that neva applied your beloved ricky hatton.
it makes sense why cotto doesnt want the title on the line at 145..that not fair and cotto isnt no fool.manny is scared to fight him at 147 he knows cotto will be to strong..and in my opinion thats why they wont fight cotto at the welter weight limit.. manny could fight mosley but hes also scared he could loose. so why are we saying hes the best fighter in the world..b.s. i like manny and i think he needs to fight cotto fair and square..cotto said he will do 145 but hes not going to put his title on the line at that weight..if manny wants legacy he has to fight for it..
Whether it’s 145 or 147lbs. Cotto will be in dreamland on the 5th round. He would regret having fought the Pacman although he would be happy going to the bank with a bloody face. Put this into your mind Manuel and write about it after the fight. Hope you would not forget that there is somebody who rightly predicted the outcome of the fight. Be man enough to do that when the time comes and I would also be man enough to worship Cotto if Pacman loses BUT THIS IS A VERY BIG IF……
I was having lunch with Elvis and MJ and we all agreed that I’m the best ever.
Playing hard to get, eh? Keep your belt, hold on to it tight. Pacfans are no longer interested. Should this fight pushes through sans belt, we’ll just watch it on YouTube.
Marga KOed Cotto, Mosley KOed Marga. Mosley is the real man to beat!
Good on Cotto. It seems people think its completely acceptable demands from Pacquiao and that suprises me. If Manny wants to put some little handicap on Cotto to even things up then thats fine if its fine with Cotto.
But if he wants to fight for the 147 limit belt then the fight should be at a 147 maximum. The rules of the belt are you gotta be no more than 147 then 147 it should be.
Depending on which belts are being contended the rules change a little regarding knock down rules and all that, but the weight limit never changes, everybody who fights for any of these belts have the same 147 weight limit put in place.
Theres nothing wrong with 2 fighters making little compramises when they agree to fight but if theres a belt on the line and the champion isnt happy to become handicapped then i think there should be no complaints.
And people say Cottos an idiot if he blows this as hes unlikely to find a match that can bring as much money his way !!! What a load of crap, Its true he probably will struggle to find a better cash cow but maybe he actually regards being a world champion above the money. I much prefer sportsman who actually want sporting achievments to be their main goal, especially seeing as its not like hes gunna be on poverty street if he doesnt.
wait who will sleep in the canvas…but for sure the world will be shock because THE greatest boxer for all time is coming from ASIA. MANNY PACMAN PACQUIAO
If Cotto wants it at 147 so be it…
The official weigh-in must be on the day of fight… to nullify any advantages on both fighters…
A very objective article indeed by Perez, right in the bullseye. You dont have be a PAC hater to know and consider the truth. I’m a legitimate PAC fan, also a big Cotto fan, but changing the rules is too much. Welterweight fighters weight is 141 min, 147 max, the fighter decides for himself. 147 is the limit and PAC pretends to impose a 145 max. I say both fight at their confortable weight, maybe 141 for PAC and 147 Cotto, done deal. It’s still welterweight. Trying to impose the opponent’s weight is unacceptable. I’ts like going to a car race and asking the compatetion to run on flat tires.
Your right Perez I’m sorry to all my fans but I been watching some video tapes of Cotto and I see that at 147 I’ll never be able to take Cotto’s body punches, So I shoudn’t try to be a welterweight I pist in my pans to see the Greatness of Cotto, he is not Oscar he don’t fight for money he fights for pride and that’s very dangeress for me, fu** you Freddy I’m not doing it. To my fans please I’m sorry but Cotto does not go dowm Margarito is bigger and stronger than me and he had plaster and still couldn’t take him down after a couple in the body i pist in my pants scared
“Cotto agreed to Pacquiao’s WISHES to have the fight take place at a 145 pound catch weight”??????
1st it is not Pacman who said that the fight should take place at 145 it was he(Cotto) demanding for the weight… If Cotto is so sure that He will prevail on November… He should be confident enough to put his title on the line…
Good to see Miguel Cotto finally is putting his foot down and the WBO should be ashamed of themselves trying to force Cotto to put the title on the line. I say both sides scrap the fight and move on. Let Manny fight Mosley who does not care at what weight he fights at, and lets see Cotto vs Berto.
Hey Manuel Perez finally an article where you make sense wow what a shocker. I agree with you 100% if Manny wants to fight for the welterweight title then let Cotto who is the champ weigh in at the welterweight limit of 147. Last time I checked this fight was not for a catchweight title. Manny needs to stop making all of these demands and either fight at 147 or move on.
i dont like agreeing with perez the racist
but in this hes right the fight should be at 147.
I think people are missing the point. I think that Cotto is willing to put his title on the line if he can fight at whatever weight he wants to fight at within the welterweight limit which is 141 – 147 pounds. Pacan can fight at 141 if he wants or 147, it makes no difference to Cotto. Cotto just doesnt want to have the weight he will fight at dictated to him by Pacquiao. The catch weight is just a weight agreed on by both fighters. Since the Agreements have already been made i think Pacquiao should honour that.
I think people are missing the point. I think that Cotto is willing to put his title on the line if he can fight at whatever weight he wants to fight at within the welterweight limit which is 141 – 147 pounds. Pacan can fight at 141 if he wants or 147, it makes no difference to Cotto. Cotto just doesnt want to have the weight he will fight at dictated to him by Pacquiao. The catch weight is just a weight agreed on by both fighters. Since the Agreements have already been made i think Pacquiao should honour that.
cotto is trying to find a way out!
Welterweight range = 141-147lbs.
Yes this does mean that a title can be on the line if both boxers are placed within this range.
However, with Pacman and Roach agreeing a catchweight with Cotto of 145lbs, i don’t believe the title should be up for grabs.
All Welterweight world title fights are labelled with the limit 147lbs. Although as previously mentioned, the catchweight limit is 145lbs. Therefore no title should be on the line!
why does it seems that a lot of PACHATER is coming out today?
is it x-mas?
i feel the hate to the PACMAN!!!
PACMAN ALL THE WAY… GO FOR 7TH PACMAN!!
IT IS YOUR DESTINY!!!
cotto is a moron – when is he gonna make money like this ever again!
Mosley’s next Press Release : “Pacquaio, I will put my welterweight belt on the line at 140lbs…Fight me please!”
Perez, well have to meet up some time for a fw beers. discuss hoe greeat Pacquiao is not.
can you name one michael jackson?
its pathetic how pacquiao only fights disadvantaged fighters recently
Good article Manuel Perez.
manuel, know why cotto does not want to put his belt on the line? because he is not sure if he is going to win that fight! why do you keep on insisting that they fight at exactly 147lbs? cotto last fought at 146lbs. against clottey. He didn’t even make it to 147lbs. makes you wonder why he is so keen on the 147lbs. limit. anyway if you didn’t know this facts, you have no business writing these articles.
cotto is scared of the pacman bcoz he knows that he will lose to pacman, so the least that he could do is not to give his belt to pacquiao that pacman won’t get his 7th title on him that will make history to the sport……. what a shame…….michael why do u hate pacman???
michael don’t be ignorant like manuel. 147lbs. is the maximum limit for the welterweight. the range is from 141-147lbs. guess you didn’t know that…duhh! they can have a title fight anywhere from 141-147lbs if they wanted to. guess you didn’t know that either.tsk…tsk!!
pacquiao is scared of cotto at 147 lbs – i would love if pacquiao got a bad beating and then quit ahahahahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa – who does he think he is saying get a belt at 145lbs is that a new weight class NO IT ISNT PACQUIAO fight him at 147lbs for the belt of at 145lbs and not the belt witch one is it going to be and cotto or pacquiao will never beat mayweather never mayweather would eat them both on pts
Good article, I agree with you if Manny wants the title he needs to man up and fight at 147.