By Tom Drury: This article is going to clear up the misunderstanding certain fans have over catch-weights, why they are implemented, advantages and disadvantages. Catchweights have been implemented by fighters and there teams past and present and has become a normality in the modern fight game. In some cases catch-weights are feasible and valid but unfortunately many catch-weight bouts leave one man at a severe disadvantage when entering the ring.
(Manny Pacquiao)
Pacquiao made his welterweight debut on 6/12/2008 against Oscar De La Hoya, the fight was sanctioned at the welterweight limit of 147lbs, however De La Hoya came onto the scales weighing less than Pacquiao and after rehydration, 20lbs under his usual fighting weight.
14/11/2009 Vs Miguel Cotto, this fight was a sanctioned welterweight world title fight with a weight limit of 147lbs, a catch-weight of 145lbs was implemented by team Pacquiao. Miguel Cotto was and is a natural 154lb fighter.
Pacquiao/Margarito 13/11/2010 at the Cowboys stadium Dallas (Texas), both men were fighting for the light-middleweight title with a weight limit of 154lbs, however a catch-weight of 150lbs was agreed.
12/11/11, Pacquiao/Marquez 3, once again a fight sanctioned at the welterweight limit of 147lbs, however Pacquiao and his team established a catch-weight of 144lbs.
POI, (Points of interest), De La Hoya was without doubt a 154lb fighter at that point in his career the effects of making weight were clearly visible and left De La Hoya at a severe disadvantage.
Miguel Cotto, again Cotto is a natural 154lb fighter and a catch-weight would only favour Pacquiao.
Antonio Margarito, After the fight team Pacquiao ask Margarito be investigated after a weight loss supplement “Hydroxycut” was supposedly found in his locker, a clear indication of Margarito killing himself to make weight, this showed in the fight.
Paquiao./Marquez 3, now this one is bewildering even for the most astute and knowledgeable boxing enthusiast, still this I will never understand. The fight was also voted “robbery of the year” by Ring magazine readers, Marquez clearly won the fight.
(Floyd Mayweather)
2/5/2009 Mayweather/Marquez a catch-weight of 144lbs was established.
14/9/2013 Mayweather/Alvarez will take place at a 152lb catch-weight
POI, (Points of interest), In a 17 year pro career only one catch-weight has been implemented by Mayweather and his team, 2 after the Alvarez fight takes place.
Mayweather tipped the scales at 146lbs for the Marquez fight, however it was later revealed the contract was changed so that Mayweather could make weight within the welterweight limit 140-147lbs as long as Marquez received a large guarantee.
Mayweather came into the fight 4lbs under the 154lb limit Vs De La Hoya and was outweighed by more than 10lbs on the night of the fight.
Mayweather has established a catch-weight of 152lbs for the Alvarez fight, this is a valid catch-weight, De La Hoya was a natural 154lb fighter at that time and even though outweighing Mayweather by 10lb that is a normal rehydration gain, Cotto another 154lb fighter with a natural rehydration gain of maybe 6-8lbs, now it is well documented Saul Alvarez is struggling to make 154 due to the natural growth of his body, this means he will likely rehydrate to near 170lbs on fight night, even with this 152lb limit implemented I can see Mayweather coming in at 150lb with no hydration gain and Alvarez coming in at 154lbs with a hydration gain of 16-18lbs. Very valid catchweight.
My articles are purely facts and are great for separating the haters and pretenders from the pure and knowledgeable boxing man, there is no comparison between Pacquiao and Mayweather, Mayweather is in a different class in regards to skills, opposition, the time he fought them and the accolades he has received.
Mayweather, 17 year pro career, 2 catchweights, undefeated, five division world champion, pound for pound worlds best and the planets highest paid athlete, not to mention the great resume and destined to claim the name of “greatest boxer of all time”.
Pacquiao, 4 catchweights over a period of 3 years, eight division world champion, 5 losses, 2 draws.
I should also mention Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton, Shane Mosley and Juan Manuel Marquez (at welterweight), were all opponents of Pacquiao after been defeated by Floyd Mayweather.
There will never be an argument of substance comparing these two fighters, Mayweather always was and always will be a superior fighter. The only valid argument was back in 2010 when Pacquiao was performing with great intensity, could he have ever won? definitely not, could he have competed? maybe. The fact is Pacquiao went on to lose against a mediocre Timothy Bradley and was then left eating the canvass by all time great Juan Manuel Marquez, Floyd Mayweather has continued onwards and upwards with victories over Victor Ortiz, Miguel Cotto and Robert Guerrero and to now showcase his skills against up and coming superstar Saul Alvarez. This whole subject is dated and the facts surrounding it leave no question who the superior fighter is and we are talking different classes here.
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