WBO stripping Floyd of title a ‘disgrace,’ says Mayweather camp
Floyd Mayweather poses for the photographers after winning his fight with Manny Pacquiao by unanimous decision. PHOTO BY REM ZAMORA
Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s camp was disgruntled crew after the pound-for-pound king was stripped of his WBO welterweight belt Tuesday (Manila time).
Mayweather earned the WBO crown after outpointing Manny Pacquiao via unanimous decision last May in a bout that broke boxing’s existing financial records.
READ: WBO strips Mayweather of title he won vs Pacquiao
“It’s a complete disgrace,” CEO of Mayweather Promotions Leonard Ellerbe told ESPN.com. “Floyd will decide what, or if any, actions he will take. But in the meantime he’s enjoying a couple of hundred million he made from his last outing and this has zero impact on anything he does.”
Losing the WBO belt leaves Mayweather with still two more with the WBA and WBC titles on his waist.
Timothy Bradley, whom Pacquiao fought twice, is reported to become the newly-recognized WBO champion. Bradley earned back the crown after beating Jessie Vargas on June 27 in a move Ellerbe also feels has something to do with WBO president Francisco Valcarcel coinciding with Top Rank honcho Bob Arum.
READ: Tim Bradley survives weird finish, beats Vargas for WBO belt
Arum is promoting both Bradley and Vargas and is someone “close to the WBO,” as per ESPN’s boxing expert Dan Rafael.
“I’m not surprised at all because of the individuals involved we’re talking about,” said Ellerbe.
READ: Arum sues Haymon, Premier Boxing Champions over fights
Mayweather has two weeks to appeal the decision, which, according Rafael is likely to be upheld.
Ellerbe also said in the same interview that the 38-year-old Mayweather has not made up his mind yet if he plans to file an appeal.
READ: WBO to strip Mayweather of welterweight title
“We have the best attorney in the game, John Hornwer, and we are fully aware of what our rights are,” Ellerbe said. “Floyd will decide what he wants to do.” CFC
