It's not a catch weight per se. 154lbs is the Jr Middleweight limit. It's not a negotiation. It is pre-negotiation chatter from Martinez to entice Pacquiao. Martinez's promoter is just laying out the premise to fight Martinez should Pacquiao's first preference fails to materialize. I didn't here anyone complaining about the Williams/Martinez II fight, being Title fight, and at a catch weight.
As far as arguments for being weight drained goes, his last 5 fights were:
11/20/10; Williams - 156
4/17/10; Pavilik - 159.5
12/5/09; Williams - 157
2/14/09; Cintron - 154,
10/04/08; Bunema - 152.5
154+ ".?" is right there for Martinez so you can get over the catch weigh nonsense. If ever there is serious talk about a match, you can bet Team Pacquiao will shoot for a much lower weight like 150lbs. (Then you can start with the catch weight crap) Their incentive to go for the higher weight of 154+ is a 9th weight-class trinket, but my guess is they would rather opt to for a lower weight and take as much advantage as they can get away from Martinez. It is all moot at this point since there is nothing serious. I do expect this match-up however to grow in popularity as the hope for a Mayweather clash dies. I also think you are completely misreading Arum. I think Arum is very crafty and cunning. I think Arum is just paving the way for future negotiations to sway them in his favor.
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