The subject, as usual, is Manny Pacquiao and the issue is whether it matters that no welterweight belt will be at stake when he fights Miguel Cotto on Nov. 14 at a catch weight of 145.

You won’t often find me agreeing with Bob Arum and disagreeing with Michael Marley and dSource Guillermo here on examiner.com, but . . .

Marley and dSource think a beltless fight is a travesty, and so do a lot of Pacquiao fans, because he can’t set the all-time record for divisions ruled unless he’s winning belts, willy-nilly. He won a lightweight belt for beating David Diaz 13 months ago, to go with five others he’s won from flyweight to junior lightweight, but he got none for beating Oscar De La Hoya or Ricky Hatton subsequently.

Apparently, then, the two fights that have sextupled Pacquiao’s Q ratings don’t mean squat without the imprimatur of the WBO.

Arum, the promoter who is a primary beneficiary of Pacquiao’s eminence, says Pacquiao don’t need no stinkin’ belt for beating Cotto, or anyone, as long as he ranks No. 1 or even No. 2 on the mythical pound-for-pound list.
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Source: www.examiner.com
By: Colin Seymour