What is in a pound: Maywather v Pacquiao

By Boxing News - 03/07/2015 - Comments

floyd5By John Simmons: In the realms of professional fighting a pound can mean a lot, we just recently seen Adrien Broner weigh in at 141 and twitter go crazy with un-professionalism comments by some diehard fans and former great fighters. Although Broner and an official later stated that the contract was 140 plus 1 pound some folks seem to think Broner is just downright silly. What this single pound can mean for a fighter might not seem like a lot but for analysts alike a pound can be seen as the difference between wins, losses, knockouts, knockdowns and decision wins.

In the May 2nd fight between Mayweather and Pacquiao what we will see in the weight scales might not be so clear cut on fight night although many of us would like to surmise what they may come in at. In a recent interview with Rappler.com trainer Freddie Roach said “I just think it’s much better for Manny to fight at 140 he’s much more productive at that weight It’s much more natural for him to fight at that weight he’s not a 147-pounder, he only forced himself to be a 147-pounder because that’s where the money was but I think he’s going to be a much more effective fighter at 140”. This is the kind of statements from Manny’s head trainer and seven time trainer of the year Freddie Roach in regards to where he thinks Manny’s weight should be.

During the course of Manny’s career we have seen him jump many weights, however Manny seems pretty settled at Welterweight and unless he can overcome Mayweather in May and maybe again in September I just don’t see Manny extending his career any further. The pound debate can seem a little hard to swallow sometimes but with current record keeping we have today we can pin point times in a fighters career where weight drain and weight addition makes them a different fighter.

In Juan Manuel Marquez’s career many people like to point out that Marquez had to blow up and fight Mayweather he was fat and slow because he jumped up two weights, seven months before facing Mayweather Manuel Marquez weighed in against Diaz 133lbs and by the time seven months rolled on he weighed 142lbs against Floyd Mayweather. I am not sure if many people have a good look at this in the realms of a fighter life and what is normal for them but some three months later Marquez took on Ramos at 138lbs and then 8 months later took on tough Aussie Michael Katsidis at 138lbs.

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Four months later we would see Manuel Marquez face Manny Pacquiao again this time not at Lightweight but at Welterweight where Marquez would weigh exactly the same as he did against Mayweather an even 142lbs a great fight with twists and turns and Manny Pacquiao reigned supreme again although not as lopped sided as the Mayweather fight but a great fight all the same. One more fight and just over a year later Marquez faced Manny Pacquiao again and this time his weight was one pound different to his previous Welterweight clashes with Mayweather and Manny he weighed an even 143lbs and put Manny to sleep in round 6.

What amazes me is the amount of critical backlash to Marquez with the he looked like the hulk and was all muscles when in reality he was one pound heavier.

Weight must place a difference in many fighter’s minds Floyd Mayweather always weighs in 146lbs or 147 when campaigning at Welterweight and history shows us that Manny Pacquiao hasn’t stopped a fighter that’s weighed in above 145lbs. Likewise Manny hasn’t been all that great at 147 himself where he lost twice but upon losing two pounds for the Bradley rematch Manny was outstanding again and then to lose another 2 pounds against Algieri we seen Manny bring back his trademark power.

Manny – 142 Oscar De La Hoya – 145 Retired
Manny – 144 Miguel Cotto – 145 Stopped
Manny – 145 Josh Clottey – 147 Distance
Manny – 145 Shane Mosley – 147 Distance
Manny – 143 Manuel Marquez – 142 Distance
Manny – 147 Timothy Bradley – 146 Lost Decision
Manny – 147 Manuel Marquez – 142 Lost KO
Manny – 145 Brandon Rios – 146 Distance
Manny – 145 Timothy Bradley – 145 Distance
Manny – 143 Chris Algieri – 143 Distance

It is also worth noting that the last fighter to challenge Floyd Mayweather below 145lbs in the Welterweight division was Manuel Marquez and probably Mayweather finest moment with the way in which he dissected Marquez. The only few fighters to wobble Mayweather at Welterweight was Mosley, Judah and Maidana all were 147 pounds on weigh in day, Whilst I know that weigh in day is the day before and many fighter come in to the ring much heavier on fight night the weight they carry the next day is not always accurate.

So there you have it will Manny Pacquiao come in below 145 where he has great success but also be susceptible to a Marquez type beating at the hands of Mayweather, will he come in on 145 where his power has not been enough to stop a fighter or will he come in 147 again where he has two back to back losses? So what’s in a pound you might ask more than meets the eye is my guess.



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