News – Marquez to Fight Mayweather Jr. At 147 Instead of 143
May 19th, 2009
By Eric Thomas: According to the latest boxing news, Floyd Mayweather Jr’s (39-0, 25 KOs) comeback fight just got a little easier today as his opponent Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez, (50-4-1, 37 KOs) a 135-pound lightweight, will now have to move up in weight to fight Mayweather at 147 rather than the previously agreed upon weight of 143. Ring Online broke the news about the new 147 pound weight limit for the July 18th fight between Marquez and Mayweather at the MGM Grand, in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Marquez, 35, who will be getting his biggest payday of his long 16-year pro career, is reportedly putting on extra muscle by lifting heavy rocks in the mountains and eating more protein in an effort to get bigger and stronger for Mayweather.
The negative part about Marquez having to put on more weight is that Marquez only recently moved up from super featherweight to the lightweight division in September 2008 last year in stopping Joel Casamayor in the 11th round in a really close fight.
Marquez then followed this victory with an impressive 9th round stoppage over former IBF/WBA/WBO lightweight champion Juan Diaz in February 2009. At 5’7”, Marquez wasn’t nearly as dominant at lightweight as he was while fighting as a super featherweight, but in having to move up to welterweight to face Mayweather, 32, it’s going to be awfully tough on Marquez to overcome that hurdler.
However, Marquez does have a couple of advantages over Mayweather in that Floyd has been out of boxing for the past two years in retirement spending the millions of dollars that he made in fights against Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton and in a WWE wrestling match.
The time off can’t have helped Mayweather’s boxing skills any. Also, Mayweather hasn’t taken on a true quality opponent for quite some time dating back to his two fights with Jose Luis Castillo in 2002. Mayweather appeared to have lost the first fight but was given what many boxing fans feel was a gift decision.
Mayweather fought well in the rematch, beating Castillo by a narrow decision. Mayweather’s opponents since that date have left a lot to be desired, with wins over Zab Judah, Arturo Gatti, Phillip N’dou, Sharmba Mitchell, DeMarcus Corley, Victoriano Sosa, Carlos Baldomir, De La Hoya, Henry Bruseles and Ricky Hatton.
Although De La Hoya obviously was a great fighter through much of his career, by the time that Mayweather fought him Oscar was a shell of his former self. The same goes for Hatton, although his talent was more questionable because his victories were over many lesser fighters with his best win coming in a wrestling type bout with a faded 36-year-old Kostya Tszyu in 2005.
Tags: 22 Responses to “News – Marquez to Fight Mayweather Jr. At 147 Instead of 143”
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Junarado, I believe that you are not a real Filipino by the tone of your statements. Please stop hurling insults of Pacquiao. I knew you are a Mexican posing only as a Filipino and your hate and envy has so blinded you bacause Pacman has eclipsed all your great Mexican boxers. Pacquiao is willing to fight Marquez and according to his trainor Roach with Pacquiao’s level of skill as of now he can knocked Marquez into dreamland in 3 rounds. Marquez,get ready for this!!!!
They are fighting at 144lbs.
I agree with you ramon.I am a filipino,i like manny pacquiao because,he is a very good boxer.However,i am not really contented with his(pacquiao) performance when he fought jmm ,that was a very close fight.I think marquez really won that fight.
I really feel that pacquiao keeps on avoiding marquez because,jmm might just hamper his career in going to the top.I would say that roach really uses his head.Thats why,instead of fighting jmm,roach decided to fight slow boxers like hatton and a weight drained de la hoya.What i like jmm most is that,he is a very brave fighter and willing to take a risk and fight mayweather at 147.While pacquiao, only fights with a very drained opponent.
This cant be a 4 round fight, what would be the point? Mayweather would just dance through it and Marquez wont get the chance to get into it.
I wouldnt write off Marquez but at 147, he will struggle. Mayweather will likely come in around 155-156 with Marquez an overweight 149 max!!!
why am i not surprised… marquez has officially given up all of his advantages to win… thats what people think but marquez has the heart and very good skill… but then again marquez challanged mayweather so he is not gonna cry and tell him that mayweather has to pay him for eveery lb over 147(like pacquiao did with oscar), thats not what a true warrior does…marquez called out mayweahter because he honestly believes he can beat him… that being said, i am still rooting for marquez! war dinamita!overcoming odds without bulls***! thats what a warrior does in his pursuit of p4p glory!!! dinamita will prevail and shock the world!!! manny pacquiao, marquez is coming for you… after this fight, your last option to avoid the man who beat you twice is to retire!!!! he promised he was coming for you!!!!
WHAT A STUPID MOVE MARQUEZ I was hoping that he would win at 143 and fight the third fight with Pacman. Mayweather talk to much he can’t even fight at 143 pounds. He is smart But I don’t have respect for him. I wanted a fight but know he fighting his weight and know you know that he won’t fight the pacman 140 pounds. He sucks! Mayweather don’t estimate Marques and the Pacman.
“Never estimate the little man”
Can you believe this I just hoPE he didn’t make a stupid move. But he might surprise you. Marquez he won’t run he will fight toe to toe. But mayweather better noT run. If he said that he the king so show us that you are the king and fight like a man and don’t run fight him toe to toe .
i’m a mexican fan I love the way marquez fight. I was happy and impressed of his two fight. But it true I thoght that he would fight 143 pounds and know I’m shock because he is know fighting mayweather at 147 pounDs . WHY! money Mayweather can even fight him at 143 . I hpoe he doesn’t run to much. I want them to go at it. But I hoped that it will be good to see and I want to see a third fight with Pacman the best pound per pound fighter.
Write off Marquez and your a fool.The guy’s a genius!If he uses his jab aggressively from the start and can tempt Mayweather into exchanges,i believe he has a genuinely great chance of winning!
My respect for Mayweather is diminishing by the day. What chance has JMM got, the guy was fighting at 130 pounds less then a year ago for god sake! and Mayweather has fought at 154 pounds! If Mayweather does not fight Pacman at a catch weight 143/144 then thats it. His record is padded out, he is definitley beatable but he is wily and skillful, a bit like Hopkins…His fights against JMM, Castillo & ODLH were all close, he must fight mosley & the winner of cotto/clottey to gain respect from real boxing fans…
I am a Filipino and I wished Marquez would win the July 18 fight night.
You know why????
To shut the big mouth of Mayweather and another re-match of Pacquiao and Marquez!
i tell u guys we have the same opinion.. this fight a mismatch.. floyd by split decision..
this match is a loss-loss situation for JMM…
i will not be surprised if PBF will dominate JMM….
shy on you PBF!!
is this what you claim yourself as the best fighter in the 2000′s??…
again a miss match fight…
only for the money…
PBF is afraid to loss thats why he dont want to take any risk…
protecting his 39-0 record….
Mayweathers moving the goalposts, obviously has doubts about winning
Will this fight be on UK TV? Setanta best pull their finger out on this one!
It’s quite clear that fothcoming July 18 boxing event is well-scripted! Two proffessional great fighter as they both claim will gave thier fans a four round of boxing!!!!!! am I dreaming?
Whatever!!!
Marquez is a good boxer but he should stop claiming that he beat Pacman in their previous two fights ‘coz he didn’t according to the judges. He should instead concentrate on beating PBF so he can have another shot at Pacman. If he loses then its PBF who will face Pacman and Marquez will be silenced.
Don’t count Marquez out. That guy can war with the best. I agree it will be an upward battle. I hope the ref can control Mayweathers elbows.
What the hell!!!!! Four rounds!!!!!!! its the first ive heard of this! Cmon i know Floyd has been gone a while but im sure he could manage more than that.
MARQUEZ IS GONNA GET SMASHED!! FORWARD THIS ARTICLE TO MANUEL PEREZ
An absolute disgrace. I’ve tried to defend him in the past but it seems now that Mayweather truly is a weasel, no longer willing to take any real risks. When he beats Marquez, it won’t mean anything other than that he’s written his own record.
Well I stand corrected on the Marquez-Mayweather situation. I think it was not a wise move for Marquez to agree to 147 as the weight limit. That means that Marquez has to put on weight and Mayweather can retain his current weight and then possibly move up to the 150′s by fight night.