by ALEX P. VIDAL
VANCOUVER, British Columbia – If any other world boxing body will offer Manny Pacquiao a title shot at the 147-lb division and he will win, he can become the first human being to pocket eight world titles in eight different divisions, technically speaking.
This hypothesis is supported by the fact that when he recently battled Miguel Angel Cotto and knocked him out in the 12th stanza, they disputed the 145 lbs "catch weight."
Even if the World Boxing Organization (WBO) recognized the win as a "welterweight" championship, Pacquiao can still pocket the legitimate "welterweight" crown in the World Boxing Foundation (WBF), International Boxing Association (IBA), World Boxing Union (WBU), or World Boxing Association (WBA), the only remaining world boxing bodies that have not sanctioned a world title fight involving the 30-year-old prizefighter.
A promoter cannot add any weight category in boxing. In professional boxing, there are only 17 weight categories –from mini flyweight or straw weight to heavyweight—and each weight has its numerical emphasis. A 140-lb or 63.5 kg is super lightweight, junior welterweight or light welterweight.
Next is 147 lbs or 66.7 kg which is called welterweight. Pacquiao has won world championship belts in the following divisions: flyweight (WBC against Chatchai Sasakul), super bantamweight (IBF against Lehlohono Ledwaba), featherweight (WBC against Erik Morales), super featherweight (WBC against Juan Manuel Marquez), lightweight (WBC against David Diaz), light welterweight (IBO against Ricky Hatton), and recently welterweight (WBO against Miguel Angel Cotto).
The WBF welter-weight division is now vacant and the number one contender is Floyd Mayweather, Jr., while the number two contender is Shane Mosley.
If Pacquiao will fight for WBF title either against Mayweather or Mosely and win, he will become unreachable in as far as record in the number of world titles won is concerned.
Cebu Promoter Helps Provide Non-Stop Gorres Updates
For fans and family friends, Aldeguer father and son, Antonio and Michael, have been providing boxing readers and fans of fallen world championship prospect Z "Butchoy" Gorres with regular updates of his medical bulletin through their outfit, ALA Promotions, since "recovering" from a near fatal head injury that resulted in brain operation after a 10-round fight in Las Vegas, Nevada last Nov. 13.
"As of Nov.18, 12 pm Las Vegas time, Gorres responded well when he was asked to lift two fingers and to find the tube. He was able to do it which is very good," said the ALA Promotions. "He is still critical but stable. The next coming days will be how he responds to more commands. The goal is to wean him from the ventilator."
Immediately after Manny Pacquiao made history by annexing his seventh world title in seven different weight divisions on November 14, Cebuanos heaved a sigh of relief when they learned that their provincemate, a world class boxer, was recovering from the ICU of the University Medical Center Hospital in Las Vegas less than 24 hours after he lapsed into coma and went under the knife to remove a blood clot in his brain.
Gorres collapsed after being declared the winner in his 10-round non-title tiff against Luis Melendez at the House of Blues in Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino last Nov. 13.
Unheralded Melendez, a knockout artist, unleashed that wicked punch in the dying seconds of the 10th and final round that changed the entire picture as Gorres wobbled on his feet before falling on all four. That was the only round won by Melendez and the knockdown could not even shake Gorre’s big lead.
Accidents like that one occur not only in boxing but also in other contact sports, except perhaps in chess, scrabble, and Games of the General. Even in table tennis, a player can suffer a blood clot if he falls and hits his head hard on the floor.
That’s why it is but imperative for all players—amateur and professional to strictly adhere to the rules, especially to safeguard themselves at all times. Fatal accidents such as head injuries could happen when one least expected them.
Gorres’ recovery was a miracle. Had the tragic incident happened in the Philippines or in countries that don’t have adequate medical facilities, God knows what would have happened to the 27-year-old number two bantamweight contender in the world./MP
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