The World Boxing Council (WBC) announced on Tuesday that
it has withdrawn its recognition of Miguel Cotto as WBC Middleweight world
champion. An official statement by the
WBC on the organization’s website said the following: “The
World Boxing Council worked tirelessly through a process that began over two
years ago to secure the celebration of the highly anticipated fight between
Miguel Cotto and Saul “Canelo” Alvarez. The WBC is proud of that
accomplishment that is giving boxing fans around the world a very important
fight to see. After several weeks
of communications, countless attempts and good faith time extensions trying to
preserve the fight as a WBC World Championship, Miguel Cotto and his promotion
did not agree to comply with the WBC Rules & Regulations, while Saúl Alvarez
has agreed to do so. Accordingly, the WBC must rule on the matter prior
to the fight.
The WBC hereby
announces that effective immediately has withdrawn recognition of Miguel Cotto
as WBC World Middleweight Champion. If Saul “Canelo” Alvarez wins the
fight against Cotto, he will be recognized as the WBC middleweight world
champion. The WBC’s decision is premised on the fact
that Miguel Cotto and his camp are not willing to abide by the governing WBC
Rules & Regulations, and the specific conditions the WBC established to
sanction the fight. Simply put: they are not willing to respect the very
same rules and conditions which applied to Cotto becoming WBC champion. The WBC
wishes Miguel Cotto the best of luck as we truly regret the course of action which
led to them taking such decision.
The WBC is a
non-profit governing organization founded 53 years ago. The WBC has
implemented all of the current rules in the sport, paving the way to a much
safer boxing. The WBC creates, implements and enforces, its Rules &
Regulations to bring safety, order, unity, justice and equality to a sport that
was marred with abuse and unfairness. Since the first day of existence of
our organization, the WBC has taken countless actions for the protection of the
boxer and it is a fact that most if not all boxers dream of conquering the
green belt. The WBC stands by its honorability and will not participate
in the abuse of power and greediness, which has taken our boxing world to
regrettable actions from different parties. The WBC wishes the promotion
great success and we are satisfied that this great fight for boxing will be
enjoyed by millions of fans around the world.” Credit: World Boxing
Council/WBCBoxing.com.
The fight
between Miguel Cotto and Saul Alvarez will go on as scheduled with the WBC
world championship being on the line for Alvarez only. Although it is unclear
as of this writing what the WBC’s course of action might be if Cotto is
victorious on Saturday night, one might assume that unified WBA/IBO world
champion Gennady Golovkin, who also holds interim championship status per his
victory in a title defense over previous WBC top contender Marco Antonio Rubio
in October 2014, could be elevated to full WBC champion if the championship is
vacated per a Cotto victory. We will
keep you updated as details become available.
For more
information about the World Boxing Council please visit: www.WBCBoxing.com
The Boxing
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