By Lem Satterfield
On November 13 at the Dallas Cowboys' Stadium, Manny Pacquiao will pursue what is widely regarded as his eighth title in as many different weight classes when he faces former world champion, Antonio Margarito for the WBC's vacant junior middleweight belt.
Their fight is being contested at catch-weight of 150 pounds. It marks the second time that Pacquiao's contract has mandated such an agreement for a title bout. The last time, in November of 2009, the Filipino superstar dethroned Miguel Cotto for the welterweight at a catch-weight of 145. Because of the catch-weight, however, there are some in the sport who consider it deceptive to call Pacquiao-Margarito a true title fight.
Pacquiao's promoter, Top Rank's CEO Bob Arum, says catch-weight fights have been taking place way before Pacquiao came into the picture.
"Catch weights have existed for the whole history of boxing. I remember that Sugar Ray Leonard won the light heavyweight championship [175 pounds] of the world coming in at 165 pounds when I think the catch-weight was 166. When Ray Leonard and Tommy Hearns fought for the super middleweight [168 pounds] title, the catch-weight was 162," said Arum.
"This is not something new in boxing. The maximum limit for each weight category is just that. The maximum limit. Fighters always throughout history have arranged to meet at a catch weight. So I don't think that it affects at all that this is the eighth title. It's being fought at a weight that is above welterweight and at a maximum weight at 150 pounds, and therefore, it qualifies as a super welterweight fight."
Emanuel Steward, who trained Hearns and currently trains Cotto, Andy Lee and Wladimir Klitschko, doesn't see a problem with a catch-weight being involved.
"The rules say that you can still fight for a title as long as you don't exceed the weight limit, and as long as both parties in the fight agree with it. How can you argue with that?" said Steward. "But with all of these sanctioning bodies, it would be more believable if you were to allow the champion of the weight class to fight at the true division limit. I believe that it's more credible when you beat the champion that way."
Freddie Roach, Pacquiao's trainer, doesn't know why some people are making a big deal about a catch-weight being involved when both fighters agreed to the contract terms.
"This is only are second catch-weight of our lifetime. It was part of the negotiation. Both fighters signed contracts, so what's the issue?" said Roach. "But size doesn't win fights. The bigger [Margarito] is, the better off we are. I don't think that this is going to be a difficult fight at all."
Lem Satterfield is the boxing editor at AOL FanHouse and the news editor at BoxingScene.com. To read more from Lem Satterfield, go to AOL FanHouse by Clicking Here.
