HOW Joshua Clottey will come in at the scales tomorrow will likely determine how he will fare against Filipino boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao. Clottey has never fought below the 147-pound limit since 1996 although he fought at a contracted limit of 143 lbs against Zab Judah in 2008 and fought Miguel Angel Cotto at 146. He last fought as a light welterweight (140) against Karl Taylor in the United Kingdom. Reports from Texas indicate Clottey is yet to meet the 147-lb limit as of this writing. He was reportedly still shedding off excess poundage a day before their official weigh in. This could leave Clottey dangerously dehydrated if reports are true that he is at least three more pounds heavier. Draining a lot of weight a day before the fight will affect Clottey’s mobility and stamina – two vital factors he needs against a speed maniac in Manny. If ever he makes the weight, Clottey will have to re-hydrate quick to his comfortable fighting weight of perhaps no more than 160 pounds. Anything more or less than that could be fatal. Pacquiao, on the other hand, is already at a trim 146 although his camp says Manny is eating regularly. My guess is Manny will eventually climb the ring at 149 pounds. At the max, 150 pounds should be it for Manny. I cannot wait to see the images of their weigh in scheduled for Friday (Saturday in the Philippines). Manny cannot relax and drop his guard against possible Mayweather act of Clottey – tipping the scale way above the 147-lb limit and paying the fine. Clottey, already bigger than Manny, will have a decided advantage if he will be allowed to climb the ring despite failing to meet the welterweight limit. This is one innovation in professional boxing I think is depriving boxing fans the real measure of the true pound for pound king – weigh-ins a day before the fight. It used to be that boxers are weighed in the morning before their scheduled fights. But medical experts said that losing weight on the day before the fight could be fatal for a boxer. A lot of head injuries are said to have been traced to this previous practice. On the flipside, however, today’s practice also gives the bigger boxer undue advantage. Athletes, particularly boxers, can re-hydrate as much as ten to 12 per cent of their body weight after strenuous exercise and fasting for a day. In the case of Manny, his ideal fighting weight is now between 148 and 150. So even if he is to lose that excess poundage of two to three pounds a day before, he will still be in tiptop shape. It would not be the case for Clottey. If Clottey’s fighting weight is at 160, he could not be over three or four pounds over the weight limit of 147 on the day of the weigh in. Those are a lot of excess poundage to shed off. Depriving one self of three to four straight meals leading to the fight to keep the weight is physically draining. I hope Clottey is professional enough to come in at the weight limit set in the division he chooses to fight the Filipino boxing champion. Otherwise, Sunday’s fight could be a stick up, either way.
