WBO: Cotto can be forced to stake his belt

EVEN IF MIGUEL COTTO DOESN’T want to, he’d likely be forced to stake his World Boxing Organization welterweight belt against Manny Pacquiao on Nov. 14 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

This was the opinion of WBO president Francisco “Paco” Valcarcel, who’s batting for the megabuck bout to be a title fight.

In a talk with Dr. Allan Recto of Philboxing on Tuesday, Valcarcel noted that the first thing Pacquiao needs to do is write the WBO a letter requesting that he and Cotto fight for the title and then tell chief promoter Bob Arum to inform the WBO about it.

Together, they can pressure Cotto to stake his title even if the fight is going to be at a catch weight of 145 lb.

Valcarcel also said in a separate interview with Jose Manuel Martino of Boxeo Mundial that Cotto still would have to pay the WBO $150,000 whether or not he risks the title or not.

Valcarcel said the catch weight poses no problem to a possible title bout. Oscar De La Hoya and Bernard Hopkins also disputed the middleweight (160 lb) belt at a catch weight of 158 lb on Sept. 14, 2004.

Though Pacquiao is willing to fight Cotto even if the title is not at stake, fight fans are pushing for a title bout because if the Filipino icon wins he’d become the only boxer to win titles in seven different weight classes, including the Ring featherweight belt.

Source: http://sports.inquirer.net/professional/professional/view/20090728-217700/WBO-Cotto-can-be-forced-to-stake-his-belt