how can they seriously warrant that?
Witter must be gutted but more seriously this is piss poor opponent for Cotto.
Was Abdulaev a mandatory because Cotto's defenses since winning the title haven't been against the best opposition. Quite frankly I am slowly getting dissapointed.Freiheit wrote:Lets remember that this is a voluntary defense so Cotto can pick anyone he wants from the WBO top 15. It will also mean one less person to compete with for the WBC mandatory spot for Witter.
No offence to you for posting that Freiheit (in fact, fair play to you for finding it). but I stopped reading that well before the end. My God, the WBO are a even more of a joke than I thought. And that's saying something.Freiheit wrote:9 months from when he won it (so that would be last month?) but WBO has a lot of exceptions, such as:
The Mandatory Challenger may be selected and determined by the World Championship Committee according to the current list of the best-classified boxers, promulgated by the WBO Classification Committee. For the purposes of designation of the Mandatory Challenger, the current list of the Classifications is that which corresponds to the month for which the determination is to be made that the World Champion is obliged to defend his Title against the Mandatory Challenger, or any other date in which the World Championship Committee may determine, for just cause.
When a Champion must make a mandatory defense, the Mandatory Challenger shall be the highest classified available boxer who, in the judgment of the World Championship Committee, best satisfies the following criteria:
1) has a record acceptable to the World Championship Committee, and who, because of accomplishment and achievement, is recognized by the World Championship Committee as a class boxer; and
2) Complies with the WBO and Association of Boxing Commissions Criteria for the Ratings of Professional Boxers; and
3) In the event that the Champion has a contract with a major television network (HBO, SHOWTIME, ZDF, Sky or other similar broadcast company), is an acceptable challenger to the Champion’s television network.
The designation of a Mandatory Challenger creates an obligation on behalf of the Champion to defend against the designated Mandatory Challenger as a condition to the Champion’s retention of the title, which obligation may be subject to modification or extension by the Championship Committee for good cause, such as (but not limited to) participation by the Champion in a unification bout or a unification tournament on such terms and conditions as the Championship Committee approves. The designation of Mandatory Challenger does not create rights in the Challenger, and may be subject to such conditions, modification, or extension as the Championship Committee determines.
That a Champion has signed a contract for the defense of his championship, even against a Mandatory Challenger approved and designated by the Committee, shall not of itself constitute compliance with these Regulations, unless the Championship defense actually takes place within the stipulated time period.
The july 2005 rankings:
1. Ricardo Torres COL
2. Naoufel Ben Radah (Asia-Pacific) AUST (fights in IBF eliminator)
3. Junior Witter (EBU) GB
4. Mike Arnaoutis (NABO) GRE
5. Kostya Tzsyu RUS
6. Gianluca Branco ITA
7. Kendall Holt (Int-Cont) USA
8. Juan Urango COL (fights in IBF eliminator)
9. DeMarcus Corley USA
10. Vivian Harris GUY
11. David Diaz USA
12. Mohammad Abdulaev UZK
13. Andrea Kotelnik UKR
14. Arturo Morúa (Latino) MEX
15. Jeffrey Resto USA