We have watched now as Antonio Margarito, Paul Williams and Celestino Caballero have been completely dismantled by smaller, faster, more precise opponents.
In the case of Pacquiao he weighed in for the Margarito bout at 144.5 lbs despite it being contested at 150 lbs.
He looked great at the weight, plenty of strength, and most importantly confident in his conditioning and ability to fight at an intense pace.
We also watched JMM slug through a 147 lb fight against Mayweather looking like he had sand in his boots only to turn around and fight at 135 and look like the same exciting p4p fighter that fans have long come to appreciate.
Also, for clarification JMM was ineffective weighing 142 against Mayweather. So essentially it was 7 lbs that really had a negative effect, not the full 12 lb difference between the divisions.
Now before you respond telling me that "yeah idiot of course he looked better against no defense Katsidis.. he's no Mayweather pwn pwn" please take into account that I know that as well as you do.
So here is my question, and please vote:
If you were managing or training JMM and you land the fight against Pacquiao and it is contracted at 147, what will you aim for your target weight to be come fight time?
A couple things to consider before rushing to vote:
1) You know that Pac wasn't even a full welterweight against Marg, so he will likely come into a fight @ 147 against JMM at around 143-144 anyway.
2) JMM has never fought and won above 135, and his last fight against Pac was at 130.
3) Even fighting at 135 JMM has not used the full weight. His last 2 fights he weighed in at 133.5 and 134, so clearly he does not see the benefit of even fighting at the limit at the lower weight...
Poll coming.........
I think he bulked up for the Floyd fight but I think now his body is actually a bit bigger and better able to handle the weight, or at least he is more used to that extra weight. I don't think he has any real problems making 135 but I don't think the weight would hurt him as badly as it did in the Floyd fight.
I think Floyd was what made him look bad not the weight anyways (range to me was a bigger issue than weight for JMM).
I'm talking weigh in numbers, not fight night.
I don't think he drained himself to make 135 by any stretch. So if he weighed in at 134 and showed up at 145 and looked that sharp I think he should follow that exact routine.
Why bother draining yourself at all if you don't need to, he should weight whatever he wants and feels good. That would be stupid (to cut weight for no reason), so he should train himself exactly like he did which lead to him weighing 145 on fight night, no reason to cut the water weight.
you sure about this? all your points to mine if the fight is made?
I would have him come in at 135. He'll then rehydrate to about 145.
Pac will come in at 144 and rehydrate to about 147-8.
The weight won't make a difference, the skills of marquez will win him the fight again.
He looked fine at 145 last night~
I'm talking weigh in numbers, not fight night.
I don't think he drained himself to make 135 by any stretch. So if he weighed in at 134 and showed up at 145 and looked that sharp I think he should follow that exact routine.
This is a good idea. Contractual fight at 147 then they can come in any weight they want just below 147. JMM comes in between 135-140 and Pac between 140-144. The interesting point here, they may come in the same weight during fight night. I want to see this fight but we have a problem....greedy Arum.
pacquiao has more natural muscle and why precisely he can carry weight better than Marquez who by the way has sticks has legs. Marquez weighing the same weight as Pacquiao at fight would be unwise as he will be asking his body to carry more excess weight if he wants to fight optimally. However, if Marquez wants to actually bother Pacquiao with punches he'll need to bulk up so Marquez may have no choice but to gain some weight.
If JMM shows up at 145 or above I will bet the house on Pac.
He showed nothing at 142 and would be stupid to put on that much weight for a smaller opponent.
He looked fine at 145 last night~
He weighted what 145 on fight night against Katsidas, that should be the exact same if he fights Manny at 147.
He should do the same prep exactly without draining himself down to 135.
Precisely.
If JMM shows up at 145 or above I will bet the house on Pac.
He showed nothing at 142 and would be stupid to put on that much weight for a smaller opponent.
This is a good idea. Contractual fight at 147 then they can come in any weight they want just below 147. JMM comes in between 135-140 and Pac between 140-144. The interesting point here, they may come in the same weight during fight night. I want to see this fight but we have a problem....greedy Arum.
I think it's safe to assume Pac comes in lighter than he did for Margarito which means he will be closer to the 140lb limit than the 147lb limit.
That being said JMM has less to lose by coming in around 136-137. He won't be giving up anymore weight that he did against Mayweather meanwhile he will be much more comfortable with his weight.
This is a good idea. Contractual fight at 147 then they can come in any weight they want just below 147. JMM comes in between 135-140 and Pac between 140-144. The interesting point here, they may come in the same weight during fight night. I want to see this fight but we have a problem....greedy Arum.
Well JMM weighed in at 142 against Floyd when the contract was 144
So that must be his normal weight
Pac weighed in at 144 aganist Marg when the contact was 150
So they look to be 2 pounds apart there
I couldn't disagree more.
If he comes in at 133.5 for a 135 lb fight I don't see how you can come to the conclusion that 142 is a normal fighting weight for him.
I think Pac will come in even lighter against JMM than he did against Marg, maybe as low as 143 himself.
So JMM can come in around 138 and be at the same weight disadvantage as when he was 142 for Mayweather and probably be much more effective.
So you dont want both fighters at their best?
Thats the thing
JMM looks best at 135 and pac looks best at 144
There's just no way they both can feel their best
Well JMM weighed in at 142 against Floyd when the contract was 144
So that must be his normal weight
Pac weighed in at 144 aganist Marg when the contact was 150
So they look to be 2 pounds apart there
I would have him come in at 135. He'll then rehydrate to about 145.
Pac will come in at 144 and rehydrate to about 147-8.
The weight won't make a difference, the skills of marquez will win him the fight again.
I think he should come in around 138, but if anything he should be less and not more.
He just looked terrible at 142. I would not think it a bad indicator if he weighed in at 135 and Pac at 145. He should fight at the weight he has proven to be effective.
fight happens....Marquez will be 145 fight night and Manny 148.
Let's talk weigh in numbers... not fight night weight.
Just for the sake of comparing apples to apples.
I would have him come in at 135. He'll then rehydrate to about 145.
Pac will come in at 144 and rehydrate to about 147-8.
The weight won't make a difference, the skills of marquez will win him the fight again.