Quote Originally Posted by bzkfn View Post
Bilbo, you're missing the point I think. If this fight was made at 147, I guarantee more people would think Pacquiao would win. The fact is, he is THAT good, he could compete at 147 and win. To become great, you have to be willing to take great risk. The fact that I read that the WBO are already planning to sanction this fight as a Welterweight title fight is what makes this more annoying, because its not a Welterweight fight, its a fucking catchweight fight.

I am one of the few people on here who honestly believes that at 147, Manny would totally outbox Shane Mosley for 12 rounds. He is a superb fighter. So as the #1 fighter in the world, looking to put a further stamp on his legacy, why not fight at 147. He has absolutely nothing to lose!
I agree winning at 147 lbs would be insane and he could possibly do it, but it's a huge risk and if he decides a catchweight is a better bet I don't blame him.

All fighters seek to negotiate the best fight arrangements for themselves. Floyd forced Diego Corales back to superfeatherweight to agree to fight him, Julio Ceaser Chavez negotiated a catchweight against Pernell Whittaker as did Meldric Taylor against Terry Norris.
Oscar made Hopkins come down to 158, the Pavlik fight was made at a catchweight of 170, the Calzaghe fight at 173.

Some of the greatest fights in history were catchweight.

All the Gatti Ward fights catchweights, Ray Leonard fought Tommy Hearns at catchweight, Duran fought at catchweight.

It's entirely normal and reasonable and has been used throughout boxing history to bring great champions from different weight classes together and allow the fight to be made.

Armchair fans will moan right now (as they do about everything) but once the fight is in the books nobody will look back and care that it was fought at 145 lbs.