IT wouldn’t be surprising if today’s scheduled official weigh-in for the Manny Pacquiao-Erik Morales bout would be as highly-awaited as the Sunday rematch itself.
A major clause in the fight, dubbed “The Battle”, contract has a lot to do with that. With the limit set at 130 lbs., any of the two fighters who will exceed the maximum weight is bound to pay $250,000.
The weigh-in is set at the Margaux Ballroom of the Wynn Resort and Casino this afternoon.
Reigning World Boxing Council (WBC) heavyweight champion Hasim Rahman will officiate the weigh-in.
The contract clause was inserted reportedly upon the request of the Pacquiao camp after Morales had a tough time meeting the same weight limit during his first meeting with the hard-punching Filipino southpaw March Still anybody’s fight between Pacquiao (right) and Morales
of last year.
Morales won by unanimous decision over Pacquiao.
The contract also stipulated that any fighter who is one pound heavier during the weight-in will be fined $500,000 while if either Morales or Pacquiao is two pounds heavier or more, the other one has the option to call off the fight.
But reports coming from his training camp had it that Morales shed off a lot of pounds for the return bout with Pacquiao at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, after having bulked up to 135 lbs. four months ago during his fight with Zahir Raheem in Los Angeles, California.
Looking sluggish and tentative, the 29-year old Morales lost in his first attempt at the lightweight division as he dropped a unanimous decision setback at the hands of Raheem.
But at the final press conference for the year’s first mega-buck fight, Morales insisted that his decision to slide back to the super-featherweight division would hardly affect his performance in the 12-round bout.
“I’ve had no problem with my weight. I’m probably a pound or pound and half over right now,” admitted the Mexican, who nonetheless expressed the extra poundage can be easily burned going into today’s weigh-in.
In contrast, Pacquiao appears to have finally settled in the 130 lbs. division after fighting Morales and Hector Velasquez within the prescribed weight limit.
“He’s happy and he’s eating well,” said Pacquiao’s American promoter Gary Shaw.
More than that, Pacquiao said he’s more prepared mentally than the first time he met ‘El Terrible.’
“I’m more focused than before and I’m going to win,” said Pacquiao when interviewed by Chuck Johnson of USA Today.
Meanwhile, betting odds in the world’s gambling capital remains dead even with a day left before ‘The Battle.’
Wynn Las Vegas Sportsbook manager John Avello said both Pacquiao and Morales are at `110 each, meaning a $110 bet earns a $100.
The number is `140 that the fight will go the distance.
In other news, in as much as Gerry Penalosa wants to see Pacquiao win his rematch against Morales, the former world champion believes everything is just about even when two of the world’s best pound-for-pound boxers meet in the ring again.
“Siyempre, gusto nating manalo si Manny, pero sa boxing hindi rin naman natin talaga masasabi kung ano ang mangyayari. Kung sino talaga sa kanila ang gutom at may will to win, ‘yun ang mananalo,” said Pe?alosa, the former World Boxing Association (WBA) super-bantamweight king, in yesterday’s SCOOP sa Kamayan session on Padre Paura, Manila.
The bout will be broadcast simultaneously over Solar Sports and ABS-CBN beginning at 10 a.m. tomorrow.
Solar Sports vice-president for marketing Jude Torcuato said commercial loads had been lessened this time unlike the first telecast of the Pacquiao-Morales fight.
He also added the popular sports channel is aiming to break the high 38 percent rating (or about 47 percent viewership share) generated by the first meeting between the two legendary ring warriors.
