One of the issues you?ve got to look at when analyzing Saturday night?s Manny Pacquiao-Juan Manuel Marquez fight is how Marquez will be able to adapt to the higher weight; indeed, likely the highest weight at which he will have ever fought. As someone who hasn?t liberally moved up in weight class, while his opponent has done so almost on a steep upgrade, people naturally ask whether Marquez, heretofore a lightweight at best, can carry 144 pounds, considering that his high weight prior to this was 142, where he hardly laid a glove on Floyd Mayweather.
Emanuel Steward is no stranger to having his fighters seek an optimum weight, and he?s had a few welterweights in his time, including Thomas Hearns and Milton McCrory. The trainer/HBO commentator (who?ll be on the call Saturday) thinks that there is one guy who is going to be more comfortable than the other.
He admits that the contracted weight, which is 144 pounds here, is something that may play to Pacquiao?s advantage.
?There is a difference in natural strength,? he says. ?Marquez is the smaller-boned fighter. Pacquiao got bigger and he got better.?
Pacquiao has been a marvel at moving from one division to another, which is amazing, considering he began his career in 1995 fighting at 106 pounds, which would have put him in the junior flyweight division. A couple of fights ago, he dominated Antonio Margarito, who had weighed in at 150 for the bout.
Steward does, however, issue some caution for people who may think the third time will be a walkover for Pacquiao,.
?It would not surprise me to see Marquez win this fight,? he told me. ?Look ? he is a fundamentally sound fighter. He?s got the style where if Pacquiao makes mistakes, it may allow him to take advantage. It?s not like he was ever dominated in there with Pacquiao.?
Steward also pointed out to me that in the two fights, ?Marquez actually won more rounds. take a look at it.? Considering the huge deficit Marquez had to make up in the initial meeting, when he was knocked down three times in the first round, I suppose he?s right.
