WBC GRABS SPOTLIGHT FROM A WBO TITLE FIGHT PRESS CONFERENCE
By Alex P. Vidal
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 13 Nov 2009
LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- A World Boxing Council (WBC) show in a World Boxing Organization (WBO) affair.
This apparently what transpired during the final press conference for the “Pacquiao vs Cotto: Firepower” at the Hollywood Theater in MGM Grand, here, November 11 afternoon.
It happened after WBO president Paco Valcarcel, who was supposed to join the presidential table as originally scheduled, did not show up.
Top Rank chief Bob Arum said Valcarcel, Cotto’s compatriot, is expected to plane in November 12 and will be the one to award the WBO championship welterweight belt for the winner on Saturday.
In a stroke of fate, WBC executive director Mauricio Sulaiman, whose name was listed as “vice president of WBC" in the original “final press conference running order”, surfaced toting a WBC championship belt laced with 600 diamonds.
Sulaiman, son of WBC top honco Don Jose Chagnon, handed the belt to HBO pay-per-view chief Mark Taffet, to be displayed on the table but Manny Pacquiao grabbed it in jest and placed in front of his table.
“This WBC diamond championship belt will be awarded to the winner (between Pacquiao and WBO welterweight ruler Miguel Angel Cotto),” beamed Sulaiman. “That means that whoever will get it, he can give 600 diamonds to 600 girls.”
Sulaiman later allowed Cotto, who was proudly displaying his WBO belt, to touch the WBC diamond strap.
When both Cotto and Pacquiao posed for press photographers, Pacquiao carried the WBC diamond belt while Cotto raised his own belt vertically.
Sulaiman said it was a perfect occasion to announce the awarding of the belt, the first time in the annals of world boxing championships, although Cotto’s belt is the one up for grabs in a 12-round duel on November 14.
It was part of the WBC project dubbed “WBC Asia Relief Fund—Philippine Disaster”, the WBC’s “modest support to the great people of this extraordinary boxing country (Philippines)”, which was recently slammed by deadly typhoon “Ketsana” that killed hundreds of people and rendered thousands of families homeless.
It is selling commemorative key-rings of the first WBC Diamond Belt to raise funds.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Alex P. Vidal.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Junior, Youth and Elite Divisions Awarded on Final Day of 2025 USA Boxing National Championships
Mon, 15 Dec 2025Jean Henri Lhuillier Applauds Cebuana Lhuillier Ambassadors for Bronze Finish at SEA Games 2025
Mon, 15 Dec 2025NOEL MIKAELIAN DETHRONES BADOU JACK TO BECOME THE NEW WBC CRUISERWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION
Sun, 14 Dec 2025FM Alekhine Nouri tops Kamatyas chessfest
By Marlon Bernardino, Sun, 14 Dec 2025Dante Kirkman Dominates DePriest Johnson in Unanimous Victory at Fight Club OC
Sun, 14 Dec 2025Bantam and Intermediate Divisions Crowned on Day Five of 2025 USA Boxing National Championships
Sun, 14 Dec 2025Murat Gassiev Brutally Knocks Out Kubrat Pulev in Dubai
By Dong Secuya, Sat, 13 Dec 2025United States Air Force Paralegals: Law, Order, and Excellence
By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, Sat, 13 Dec 2025OFFICIAL WEIGHTS AND RUNNING ORDER FOR PACHECO VS SADJO IN STOCKTON
Sat, 13 Dec 2025OFFICIAL WEIGHTS FROM TODAY'S CHM: 2 REMATCH SEASON CEREMONIAL WEIGH-INS IN DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES
Sat, 13 Dec 2025Donaire to fight Tsutsumi on December 17 in Japan
By Lito delos Reyes, Sat, 13 Dec 2025Nesthy faces Indon legend
By Joaquin Henson, Sat, 13 Dec 2025Bob Santos Joins Broadcast Team for Boxlab Promotions’ “Night of Champions XIII” During WBA’s 104th Annual Convention
Sat, 13 Dec 2025Championship Bouts Set for the Bantam and Intermediate Division
Sat, 13 Dec 2025SEAG Triathlon, aquathlon, duathlon in Rayong
By Lito delos Reyes, Sat, 13 Dec 2025