By Dan Ambrose: They made a big deal about the Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Saul “Canelo” Alvarez fight taking place at a measly 152 lb. catch-weight for their September 14th fight in Las Vegas, but what’s going to keep Canelo from not blowing off that two pounds and coming in at 154 like usual?
We’ve not heard there being a huge penalty written into the contract, and without one, Canelo can easily afford to pay whatever fine he’ll receive for coming in two pounds over the limit at 154.
It’s not as if Canelo hasn’t missed a catch-weight before. In 2011, Canelo actually won the vacant WBC junior middleweight title after missing the agreed upon 150 lb. catch-weight against WELTERWEIGHT Matthew Hatton by coming into the weigh-in at 151.8 lbs. instead of the agreed upon catch-weight of 150 lbs.
Canelo missed the catch-weight by nearly two points. Who’s to say that he’ll make the weight this time? Coming events cast their shadows before. We could see Canelo coming in overweight like before and easily paying whatever fine that they give him for missing the catch-weight.
That’s why Mayweather needed to make the catch-weight at 150 lbs and then attach a $2 million per pound penalty. That’s only way you keep a fighter from coming in whatever weight they want to.
The 152 lb. catch-weight for this fight is pretty much a joke. It’s like having a 1 pound catch-weight and calling it a catch-weight fight. Canelo SHOULD be able to make the 152 lb. limit, but since he’s barely making at 154 as it is and then rehydrating up to light heavyweight at 172 lbs., I’m just not so sure.
When a fighter is that heavy and barely making the 154 lb. division then 2 pounds can be critical. That’s why I think Canelo will blow off that catch-weight if the weight penalty is a small fine per pound.
With him making millions for the fight, a penalty in the thousands is basically peanuts for him. I’m sure if he has the choice of coming in at 154 to keep his straps and be strong or come in at 152 and be weak, I think Canelo might opt for the former and choose to miss the weight and be strong.
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