WBO strips Mayweather of title he won vs Pacquiao

Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. fight night at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. PHOTO BY REM ZAMORA/INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

Floyd Mayweather Jr. is not exempt from following the rules.

The World Boxing Organization (WBO) made this clear when, on Monday (US time), it stripped Mayweather of the welterweight world title he won after beating Manny Pacquiao in May.

The WBO said in a resolution posted on its website on July 6 that it “is allowed no other alternative but to cease to recognize Mr. Floyd Mayweather, Jr. as the WBO Welterweight Champion of the World and vacate his title” for his failure to comply with its rules.

The boxing organization does not allow boxers to hold world titles in multiple weight classes at the same time. After outclassing Pacquiao, Mayweather holds titles from the WBO, the World Boxing Council and the World Boxing Association.

It took the WBO two months to formally rule on the case, a stretch from the 10 days it usually allows.

The WBO said that it had repeatedly reminded Mayweather of this rule, especially after the pound-for-pound king “spoke at length about affording the opportunity to other fighters, particularly those of a younger generation,” even saying that he is “not greedy.”

READ: WBO to strip Mayweather of welterweight title

From interim titleholder, American boxer Timothy Bradley may be formally recognized as the welterweight champion two weeks after winning his match against Jessie Vargas. IDL