MANNY Pacquiao passed the mandatory test at the scales with flying colors Saturday, indicating that the Filipino boxing sensation is in great shape a week before his match with Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez for the latter’s World Boxing Council (WBC) super featherweight crown in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The 29-year-old Pacquiao tipped the scales at 133 pounds when representatives from the WBC conducted the preliminary weigh-in at the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood, California.
After the weigh-in, which was held after a tough afternoon sparring session, Pacquiao reportedly expressed elation after proving to all and sundry that he indeed has no problem making the super featherweight limit of 130 lbs.
Under WBC rules, no boxer must be more than five percent over the super featherweight of 130 lbs. a week before fight night.
That Pacquiao easily passed the preliminary weight check before the official weigh-in only shows that he is in a fantastic shape this time unlike in his last fight when he struggled to make the 130-lb. limit against Marco Antonio Barrera.
The Filipino bomber is scheduled to attend a press conference Monday with Marquez at the Olvera Street area in downtown Los Angeles, and then proceed to the Wild Card Gym to resume his training.
Pacquiao and his entourage will break camp a day later and head to Las Vegas.
The much-anticipated rematch, which was almost four years in the making, will be held at the posh Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino.
Pacquiao floored Marquez three times in the first round the first time they fought in May of 2004, but the Mexican came back strong to salvage a draw.
