By Dave Lahr: I was totally shocked to hear today that Freddie Roach wants Manny Pacquiao to fight WBC middleweight champion Sergio Martinez next. Speaking with fightnews.com, Roach said he would like for Pacquiao to fight Martinez rather than the other list of fighters that have been bandied about recently for Pacquiao. But the Roach said a fight between Pacquiao and Martinez would have to be at the “right weight,” and that could mean some kind midevel, strength draining catch weight number that would leave Martinez too weak to put up much of a fight.
Depending on how low Roach is thinking about, it could have the same effect of stunning Martinez and then sending him out to fight. Under the right kind of strength draining catch weight, I can see Martinez coming out against Pacquiao looking like death warmed over the way that Oscar De La Hoya did in his eighth round loss to Pacquiao in December 2008. Let me guess what kind of catch weight Martinez would have to come in for a fight against Pacquiao.
I can see something like 142-144. I can’t see Bob Arum, Roach or Pacquiao agreeing to a fight with Martinez at 147 or above. I think he would still be deemed too dangerous for Pacquiao, even though I can’t see Martinez making 147 without starving himself to near death. But I think he would be expected to come in even lower than that for a Pacquiao fight. My guess is 144 would be the final number in a take it or leave it offer. Of course, Martinez will probably agree to it and come into the fight looking like hell, nothing but skin and bones waiting to be slaughtered.
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