Miguel Cotto stripped of WBC middleweight title
Four-division world champion Miguel Cotto (40-4, 33 KOs) has been stripped of his WBC middleweight title.
The WBC has elected to strip Cotto of the belt, only four days before his mega-fight against Canelo Alvarez (45-1-1, 32 KOs), claiming the Puerto Rican did not abide by its rules and regulations.
So Cotto will no longer defend it against the Mexican on Saturday night in Las Vegas, although if Canelo wins, he will be the new champion.
The WBC demanded a $300,000 sanctioning fee from each fighter to have the title on the line, but Cotto refused to pay that amount.
If Cotto wins, the interim champion Gennady Golovkin will be elevated to WBC champion.
A statement from the WBC read: "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"The WBC hereby announces that effective immediately has withdrawn recognition of Miguel Cotto as WBC World Middleweight Champion.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 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."