Sometimes, I think boxers negotiate catch weights simply because they have the power to do so. It?s gotten ridiculous.
Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez, who are Nos. 1 and 5 in the October Yahoo! Sports ratings, are fighting for Pacquiao?s World Boxing Organization welterweight title on Nov. 12 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Though the welterweight limit is 147 pounds, by contract neither fighter is allowed to weigh more than 145.
On Dec. 3, Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito will rematch at New York?s Madison Square Garden for Cotto?s World Boxing Association super welterweight title. Though the division limit is 154 pounds, their contracted weight is 153.
It?s happening all too often, stars attempting to use their leverage to gain an edge, real or imagined.
It?s high time this stopped. Boxing has 17 weight classes already, and adding catch weights on top of that creates confusion in the marketplace. It has no point.
Marquez is not a welterweight; he?s a brilliant fighter, but it was obvious when he fought Floyd Mayweather Jr. at welterweight in 2009 that he?s not nearly big enough for the division. He?s a lightweight, plain and simple.
He fought a pair of brilliant matches against Pacquiao, at featherweight in 2004 and at super featherweight in 2008. Pacquiao has gotten bigger since then and is now a full-fledged welterweight.
Marquez, though, has not gotten bigger, and is best at lightweight. If he wants to go up in weight to challenge Pacquiao, it?s admirable, but he should do it at the champion?s weight. It just gnaws at history.
Sugar Ray Robinson, the greatest fighter ever, held the middleweight title when he moved up to challenge Joey Maxim for the light heavyweight belt in 1952. Maxim weighed in two pounds under the light heavyweight limit at 173 pounds.
Robinson, though, weighed under the middleweight limit, coming in at 157?. And despite the 15? pound disadvantage, he would have won the famous bout at Yankee Stadium had he not succumbed to heat stroke after 13 rounds. Robinson was far ahead on all three judges? cards.
These catch weights confuse the marketplace and dilute history. It?s time they ceased.
