After Mayweather won the WBO title from Manny Pacquiao in May, he failed to pay the $200,000 sanctioning fee and vacate his titles at WBC/WBA titles at junior middleweight. (Yes, a $200,000 fee.) Mayweather was due to pay.001% of his purse and didn’t bother. Why? He has beaten all the top of the line boxers here at the moment. Mayweather defeated Pacquiao in a 12-round unanimous decision back on May 2, 2015.
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The decision to ignore the WBO’s requests was one made out of pure ego.
The boxing star claimed the WBO welterweight title on May 2nd, when he outpointed Manny Pacquiao in the richest fight in boxing history.
The organization released a statement on its website indicating that it ceased to recognize Mayweather as the WBO welterweight champion after he failed to comply with their rules.
“Floyd will decide what, or if any, actions he will take”. With the WBO withdrawing recognition of Mayweather as the welterweight champ, Bradley will be formally elevated to full welterweight titleholder status.
Mayweather initially talked about relinquishing his other belts to “give young fighters a chance”.
Immediately following the fight on May 2nd, Floyd hinted he would likely give up the belt, among others he owns, in order to let the next generation of fighters coming through fight for a shot at them. According to the official rules agreed on before the fight, participants in a World Boxing championship contest must pay the fee at a within a certain time-period following the fight.
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Mayweather being relieved of the WBO crown means that Timothy Bradley Jnr is expected to be crowned champion after he controversially beat Jessie Vargas for the interim title last month.
