Two months after what was billed as the latest “Fight of the Century,” Floyd Mayweather has been stripped of the WBO (World Boxing Organization) title he captured after defeating Manny Pacquiao via unanimous decision.
The WBO confirmed the news yesterday after Mayweather failed to pay their $200,000 sanctioning fee by the July 3 deadline.
“The WBO World Championship Committee 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 failing to comply with our WBO Regulations of World Championship Contests,” the WBO disclosed in a statement.
Mayweather, who earned an estimated $200 million for Pacquiao bout, has 2 weeks to file an appeal.
This news isn’t surprising due to Mayweather stated after the fight he’d vacate all the titles. The recent Timothy Bradley vs. Jessie Vargas bout was for the interim WBO title, so it makes sense this was the first belt Mayweather would drop (he’s not going to face a Top Rank fighter in his alleged last bout in September). Khan is still the September frontrunner in my eyes. I’d give Keith Thurman a slim chance to get the nod if he delivers an amazing performance this weekend against Luis Collazo.
Beats, Boxing and Mayhem 