MANILA, Philippines - Hindi lamang ang World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight crown ni Miguel Angel Cotto ang nakataya sa kanilang salpukan ni Filipino boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao.
Kahapon, inaprubahan ng buong World Boxing Council (WBC) Board of Governors ang pagha-hanay sa kauna-unahang WBC Diamond Belt para sa upakan nina Pacquiao at Cotto.
“The Diamond Belt has received a tremendous positive response from promoters and media around the world, and we at the WBC are very excited and proud that this important and historic fight will be the first for the Diamond Belt,” pahayag ni WBC President Jose Sulaiman.
Ang Diamond Belt ay inilunsad ng WBC para sa mga catchweight fights, kagaya ng banggaan nina Pacquiao at Cotto sa 145 pounds sa Nobyembre 14 sa MGM Grand Garden Arena sa Las Vegas, Nevada.
“The Diamond Belt was created as an honorary championship exclusively for fights between elite boxers, and Manny Pacquiao, a three-time WBC champion in three different weight divisions, and Miguel Cotto, a former WBC international champion, are unquestionably qualified as two of the best boxers of today,” sabi ng WBC head.
Si Pacquiao ay nagkampeon sa WBC flyweight, super featherweight at lightweight divisions bukod pa sa kanyang hawak na International Boxing Federation (IBF) super bantamweight belt, International Boxing Organization (IBO) light welterweight crown at Ring Magazine featherweight title.
Ang WBC Diamond Belt ay napapalamutian ng 18 carat gold fusion, halos 800 diamonds, emeralds at rubies at 150 Swarovsky semi-precious stones na ginawa ng isang Mexican artisan.
Kamakalawa ay pumayag na rin ang 28-anyos na si Cotto na itaya ang kanyang WBO welterweight title laban sa 30-anyos na si Pacquiao.
Idinagdag ni Sulaiman na walang sisingilin kahit isang sentimo ang WBC sa naturang salpukan nina Pacquiao, nagbabandera ng 49-3-2 win-loss-draw ring record kasama ang 37 KOs, at Cotto (34-1-0, 27 KOs).
“The WBC will not charge a sanction fee on this extraordinary occasion,” wika ni Sulaiman sa natu-rang Pacquiao-Cotto megafight na hiningan naman ni WBO chief Francisco “Paco” Valcarcel ng sanction fee na $15,000 kay Bob Arum ng Top Rank Promotions. (Russell Cadayona)