Eminent boxing coach Freddie Roach was reported to have said Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao will fight Mexico’s Erik Morales even if the latter tip the scales, at the final weigh in, at 132 lbs.
Will Manny still be able to inflict damage on Morales even if the latter is almost a kilo over the 130-lb limit (at weigh in)?
Without doubt he will.
But will Manny give Morales undue advantage?
That is an object of debate among kibitzers but knowledgeable boxing aficionados are saying two pounds will make a big difference especially among boxers in the lower weight categories.
If Manny is fighting at the heavier weight level, like the middleweight where a five pound difference is not much or in the heavyweight where a 25-lb disparity is becoming more the rule than the exception, that edge of Morales is negligible.
But fighting at the contract weight of 130 pounds, a two-pound difference could spell defeat or victory, depending on whose side of the scale you are on.
Manny’s Filipino lawyer, Franklin ‘Jeng’ Gacal Jr. (yes, he is a namesake of his father who is a former city prosecutor of General Santos City), said Manny would be handicapped if he will choose to go ahead with the fight with Morales two pounds over the contract weight.
Nowadays, boxers could easily go around this weight rule.
In the old days, weigh-ins were done on the day of the fight.
Due to some serious injuries to boxers, these were move a day before the fight to give boxers enough time to rejuvenate and recover from food deprivation.
Under this new set-up, however, boxers usually add more than five pounds by the time they step into the ring.
So where will Manny’s handicap get into the picture?
Jeng says Morales could easily balloon to 145 pounds on the day of the fight.
The last time both fighters met, Jeng swore Morales weighed more than 10 pounds over the 130-pound limit.
Indeed, Morales appeared famish during the weigh in but looked very much bigger than Manny inside the ring.
Losing two more pounds of excess weight is like peeing off a liter of body fluids. That is physically draining and it will take the sap out of your strength.
Morales is no longer natural super featherweight. His struggles with the scales are no secret to the boxing world.
But the Mexican warrior would be more than willing to part a million dollar of his purse to avenge his bitter and most humiliating defeat at the hands of Manny.
In his “Grand Finale” bout with Morales, Manny has the option to take the one million and walk out of the fight – without sweat.
But that would deprive millions of his avid fans and eager bloodthirsty Las Vegas boxing minions, who had already bought their tickets, a guaranteed mayhem.
Does Manny have other options?
Yes, he does.
One, he could demand Morales wear a pair of 10-ounce glove as against his eight-ounce mitts.
That should negate some of Morales’ advantage.
Two, Manny could demand that Morales not weigh more than 138 pounds 30 minutes before the fight if the Mexican is two pounds over the 130-lb limit the day before.
Manny, as reported Wednesday, is eight and a half pounds over the limit with still 24 days to go.
That should pose no problem for Team Pacquiao.
Should he make the weight, I believe Manny will be five or six pounds over the 130-lb limit by the time he steps into the ring.
So giving away two or three pounds to Morales is better than giving him five, isn’t it?
But of course, in the end, it will be Manny’s call?
How do you think Manny would decide?
