LOS ANGELES (Dec. 17, 2019): In order to comply with the World Boxing Organization’s (“WBO”) prohibition against its champions holding titles from other sanctioning organizations in multiple weight classes, four-division world champion Canelo Alvarez (53-1-2, 36 KOs) and the WBO have reached an agreement for Canelo to vacate the WBO’s Light Heavyweight World Title. Canelo won the WBO title by defeating Sergey Kovalev via 11th-round knockout on Nov. 2, 2019. Canelo will maintain his status and privileges as a WBO Super Champion, including the privilege to be designated mandatory challenger to the WBO titleholder in any division.

Canelo said, “I know that my accomplishments in the ring have brought pride to my fans and my country. I have long enjoyed my relationship with the WBO and appreciate all they do to preserve and enhance the sport of boxing. This agreement allows the WBO to have its light heavyweight title contested regularly and allows me to pursue bouts against the best opponents, regardless of weight class.”

Francisco “Paco” Valcarcel, president of the WBO, said, “Canelo has already accomplished much in boxing, and is still a young man. When his career is done, he will be regarded as one of the greatest boxers to ever step into the ring, and one of Mexico’s best fighters ever. We look forward to his future fights against rivals at the top of the middleweight, super middleweight, light heavyweight, and other divisions.”

“We completely support the decision made by Canelo Alvarez and the WBO,” said Oscar De La Hoya, Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy. “Canelo made history by stopping Sergey Kovalev in impressive fashion to become a four-division world champion. Not only did he show that he is a real threat at 175 pounds, but he also demonstrated that he is fully capable of moving across several divisions to look for the most exciting fights for the fans. At the same time, we look forward to continue promoting our other WBO champions such as Patrick Teixeira and Franchon Crews-Dezurn.”

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (PNA) – Filipino boxing hero Manny Pacquiao has been accorded yet another honor – that of being the World Boxing Organization’s “Best Pound-for-Pound Fighter of the Decade.” WBO president Francisco “Paco” Valcarcel announced this during the Final Press Conference of the Manny Pacquiao-Tim Bradley welterweight championship fight held at the Hollywood theater of the posh MGM Grand here.

Valcarcel gifted Pacquiao an imposing diamond ring, in appreciation of Pacquiao’s 10-year heroics, in a simple ceremony inserted in the program with members of Team Pacquiao and Team Bradley, media men and supporters of both camps.

“This diamond ring is being given in recognition of Manny Pacquiao as the WBO’s Best Pound-for-Pound Fighter of the Decade,” Valcarcel said during the award rite.

After the ceremony, Pacquiao walked toward front of the stage showing the ring in his finger to the audience to the delight of the photographers and camera men.

WBO’s recognition came on the heels of the “Fighter of the Decade” honor handed him by the Boxing Writers Association of America, three “Fighter of the Year” accolade, also by the BWAA, and a couple of ESPY Awards.

Both camps, Pacquiao and chief trainer Freddie Roach, on the one hand, and Bradley and chief trainer Joel Diaz, on the other, expressed confidence of victory even as they assured.
Bradley, the reigning unified junior-lightweight champion who is challenging Pacquiao for his 147-pound crown, spoke first, drawing laughter when he said,” I’m ready because I went through a hell of a training camp,” or something to that effect.

Pacquiao, who up to yesterday had been installed a 5-1 favorite ((minus 480 to Bradley’s plus 360) in Las Vegas’ bookmakers odds, fired back saying he, too, has prepared hard describing his cap as “heaven.”

The cocky challenge, showing confidence of a win, showed all the attendees a poster announcing the Pacquiao-Bradley II and a sample of a ringside ticket complete with the date of the fight and the price pegged at $1,200.

He then looked at Pacquiao sitting at his right, shook the Filipino’s hand and said,”I’m ready, I’m ready.”

During his turn to speak, Pacquiao, 33, meekly said he understood Bradley’s feelings, that he knew his challenger is younger and that he also intent to keep his title as he trained like he is 26 years old.

At the backstage though, during the post-presscon interviews, Pacquiao said he’s refuting Bradley’s gimmickry “in Jesus name.”

Roach, for his part, laughed off Bradley’s rematch gimmick, saying, “Well, we thank him for giving us a rematch, but I’m afraid of is that it won’t happen. We’ll make sure of that.”

“As I have been saying, we had a good camp, Manny prepared without distraction whatsoever. We’ve studied Bradley’s fights and realized his strength and his flaws. His problem is how to connect against a fast opponent like Manny. “ he analyzed.

“We studied all his moves, including his tendency to use his heads and we have found a solution to that,” Roach said. “I think Manny will knock him out.”

Also attending the presscon were Bob Arum, top honcho of Top Rank Promotions who presided over the news conference, MGM Resorts president Richard Stern and representatives of HBO, TNT and Tecate Beer.

 

By Eddie Alinea

http://philboxing.com/news/story-71096.html

The filipino Manny Pacquiao, considered the best pound for pound fighter in the world, will fight for something more than just his WBO Welterweight title.

“Pac Man, as they call him, will also fight for the for the World Boxing Organization’s most prestigious gold, diamond, ruby, and esmerald ring that is given to their so called “Super Champions”.

Even though Pacquiao’s purse for this fight could allow him to cover the cost of hundreds of these rings, the added value the ring will have is that it will be given by the WBO in a ceremony held in the Philippines.

According to WBO President, Francisco “Paco” Valcarcel, the ring will cost in between $13 and $20 thousand.

“When Oscar de la Hoya received his ring, its cost us close to $8 thousand. The price is not what matters but what its represents, Valcarcel explained, who is currently on his way to Las Vegas to witness the fight at the MGM Grand Arena. The WBO gives these rings commemorating a “Super Champion” on making five consecutive successful title defenses. With Pacquiao it will be an exception.

The Filipino won the WBO title in 2009 by defeating Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto by TKO in the twelth round. Pacquiao successfully defended his title Joshua Clottey and Shane Mosely. Pacquiao fight against Antonio Margarito was for the vacant WBC Jr. Middleweight title.

Against Marquez, his third fight with the Mexican, will be his third official defense of his WBO Welterweight title.

Marquez, a former WBO Featherweight and current WBO Lightweight champion, already has his ring.

“If Pacquiao wins this fight, we will prepare something very special for him; probably something bigger than what we prepared for De la Hoya.

We are talking about possibly the best pound for pound fighter of all times; with much respect towards Sugar Ray Robinson. But he must first win Saturday’s fight in order to obtain this ring that, more than just having monetary value, its significance is very important. Pacquiao’s ring would be more modern; it has more precious stones.

In Puerto Rico, boxers like Juan Manuel Lopez, Alex “El Nene” Sanchez, and Ivan Calderon are some of the fighters of Latin America that posses this ring given to Super Champions. Joe Calzaghe, Naseem Hamed, Marco Antonio Barrera, Johnny Tapia, Wladimir Klitschko and Arthur Gregorian are also some of the fighters to have obtained this prestigious ring.

“Pacquiao ring would be the most expensive one at the moment. We have made various modifications to the regular model which sum up to around $3 and $5 thousand. Pacquiao is a great champion and we hope that someday he may visit the island (Puerto Rico)

Article by:  Carlos Narváez Rosario, EL VOCERO  November 8, 2011