Pacquiao-Cotto Title Bout Rests on WBO's Section 15

A lot has been written on the title mishap that hangs like a bad cloud above the November 14 bout between Manny Pacquiao and WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto. The fight takes place at an agreed catch-weight 145-pounds and because of this weight, Cotto has not been willing to stake his welterweight crown. He says Pacquaio will have to fight him at the full welterweight limit of 147 to have the title at stake. The WBO president Francisco “Paco” Valcarcel is pushing to have the WBO title on the line. Who could blame him? There is a $150,000 sanctioning fee at stake on both sides. Top Rank's Bob Arum promotes both fighters and is willing to pay both of their sanctioning fees.

The title picture will come down to several scenarios but all of them will have the WBO title at stake. The title picture comes down to Section 15, page 17 of the WBO's Rules and Regulations.

The sections reads the following:

(b) A WBO champions shall not participate in a non-championship fight that is not a WBO Championship without the prior authorization of the WBO World Championship Committee. This authorization shall be subject to such conditions as the WBO World Championship Committee determines. In addition, this authorization will be granted only on the condition that the WBO Champion pay a fee to the WBO that is the equivalent of the amount that he WBO Champion would have paid to the WBO if the nonchampionship fight were conducted as a WBO Championship fight.

Pursuant to the official rules, the WBO is in the right to sanction the bout as a welterweight title fight. Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach already told BoxingScene.com that his fighter is going to pay the required sanctioning fee - even if Cotto refuses to pay his share. That move would hand Manny the title with a win or cause the title to become vacant if Cotto prevails.

The WBO has to give Cotto authorization to take the Pacquiao fight, pursuant to their rules and the WBO can set the conditions of the fight - and that includes making it a title fight. Even if Cotto refuses to put the title on the line, the WBO rules are clear, he would be forced to pay a sanctioning fee that is equal to the amount of a normal title fight.

Even if Cotto vacates the title, the WBO can place the vacant title at stake in the fight. There has already been word that Pacquiao would be lifted to the status of number 1 contender and that would give him a chance to win the title - with or without Cotto's compliance.

Source: http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&id=21485