By Manuel Perez: It looks like World Boxing Organization welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao is asking for a $10 million in fraction penalty for every pound over the 147 pound limit. In an article by Nice Giongco from Fight News, he quotes a text message from Pacquiao lawyer Franklin Gacal “demanding a penalty of $10 million per pound or a fraction thereof over and above 147 lbs during the weighin.”
It looks like Pacquiao and his trainer Freddie Roach want to make Mayweather hesitant about coming in over the official limit for the fight. Both Mayweather and Pacquiao would be effected by the weight penalty rule, but it would seem to be more of a problem for Mayweather, because he failed to come in at the correct weight last time out.
In Mayweather’s last bout against Juan Manuel Marquez, Mayweather came in over the 144 pound weight limit for the fight. Marquez, who moved up in weight nine pounds from the lightweight division, came in at the 144 pound catch weight without any problems, but Mayweather didn’t, weighing 146 for the fight. Mayweather looked strong and bigger than Marquez in the fight and because he didn’t have to drain himself making the catch weight, he seems to have benefited. So I guess I can understand why Pacquiao and his team would want Mayweather to think twice about coming in over the weight limit. But, man, that’s a lot of money.
I don’t know how they’ll make that rule stick. But it does need to be a huge penalty, because without it, Mayweather, if he chooses, can ignore it and come in at whatever weight he wants to. The reason he could do this is because of the huge money that both he and Pacquiao will be making for this fight. A penalty in the hundreds of thousands would be nothing for Mayweather – or Pacquiao – when they both stand to make $40 million a piece for their March 13th fight.
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