Floyd Mayweather Jr on weight and Pacquaio.

Very good couple of interviews, cheers.

 

It is easy to say that there is a double standard with PBF without examining the context around this issue. Is there a double standard? Sure there is, but it isn't as simple as people make it out to be.

1.) There is an unusually high expectation level for PBF that other fighters don't have, that is certainly true. However, it can be said that PBF brings that upon himself. PBF has boasted that he is the greatest of all time and many of the fighters considered today as all time greats would not be able to handle a fighter of his caliber. In other words, he is beyond comparison with other greats because he is in a class of his own. As they say with great power comes great responsibility. PBF wants all the adulation but shuns people for putting pressure on his career and scrutinizing his accomplishments. At the same time dismissing valid criticisms and reminding everyone that at the end of the day it isn't his legacy that matters but his bank account.

2.) Due to the above mentioned point, PBF has rarely entered into a match NOT being the favorite. Not only does this put added pressure on him as a fighter but it also diminishes his accomplishments. In other words, by winning he is doing what he is expected to do and further to that point it is expected that he does it well. This condition is self imposed and it is hypocritical of him to bash people for setting this expectation when he is the one that has set the bar for himself.

3.) Although it is a fair point that MP only beat the same fighters PBF previously beat, the path to this accomplishment was decidely more difficult. MP had fought at or below 130 lbs for almost 95% of his fighting career. In the span of a little over a year MP fought and won fights at 135, 140 & 147 including two recent PBF opponents. Even if the arguement is fair that PBF 'soften' them up this is still an amazing accomplishment. When you consider PBF hasn't fought at 130 since 2001 you can understand why people hold what MP accomplished in higher regard. This of course not even mentioning the stunning dominance and excitement of those performances. The type of performance we haven't seen from PBF since his days at 130 & 135, the type expected of a P4P #1.

-cmkb

 

To that point I believe the criticism that was given to PBF in regards to the Hatton fight was not that PBF was too big for Hatton but rather that he forced the fight to be at 147 to diminish the physical nature of Hatton's attack. Fighting at 147 allowed PBF to bulk up enough to stand with Hatton for that type of fight which would have been more challenging had they fought at 140, or at least that was the perception.

Pacquaio had already fought higher than 140 going into the Hatton fight, although I agree due to Hatton's style I think people were figuring Hatton's strength would be more of a factor at 140.

To be clear, outside of PBF fans, most people want to see Pacquiao vs PBF because they want to see what Pacquiao can accomplish not what PBF brings to the fight. Everyone already knows PBF's game and to be honest he's not the unknown, Pacquiao is and that brings excitement and intrigue to the matchup.

It is the same if PBF were to face say Paul Williams, the intrigue of seeing if PBF can handle a fighter of that size dramatically outweights the critic on Paul for fighting a smaller fighter.

Not to mention in both of the examples people would give PBF and Pacquiao a chance to win the fight going into it. It is not inconceivable going into the match up the odds could be almost 50/50 for those matchups. This is in stark contrast with the JMM vs PBF fight were PBF is considered a 3 to 1 favorite.

In the end having the two best fighters who have both fought at weights around each other vying for the title of 'Best Fighter in the World' will always be accepted and sought after.

-cmkb

 

Great post! I totally agree that PBV vs Pac is more of a test too see how great Pac is as he would definitely be the underdog here. Also great point that PBF does bring all the hate on himself, if he wants to prove that he's on of the best ever, he has to back it up with actions. People who criticize PBF usually fall into 2 camps, people who just hate the guy (because of his attitude) and people who feel disappointed that he has yet to really test himself but will give him all the praises he desires if he does so.

 

How was Floyd able to bulk up enough at 147? He weighed 148 against Hatton. He would of weighed 148 if they fought at 140. Hatton weighed 154. The same weight he is at 140. HE wasn't 160 like he was against Collazo.

 

Tough to say, lol. I'm a bit of a ******* so a knee jerk response if PBF does beat Pac is to say that PBF is bigger But I actually think that the weight difference between the 2 isn't really that big, PBF has a slight advantage but certainly nothing insurmountable. Reach definitely goes to PBF i think, and with PBF's style, it could be a huge factor. I would say, in my biased opinion that I would definitely give PBF props, but a Pac victory over PBF is greater than a PBF victory over Pac IMO.

But I honestly just wish PBF would just go after at least 1 top welter. Against someone who could possibly take him to deep waters. And if PBF actually is just that good that no one can take him to deep waters, then he needs to win spectacularly. Imagine if he put on a master class like he did against Gatti but this time against and elite welter.. that would be awesome. Sometimes simply winning just isn't enough to get the respect and praise he wants.

 

Hatton being too big for Pac is what some people assumed before that fight actually took place. If Pac lost to Hatton that fight, then many believe it is because of the size factor which should now be disregarded after his performance.

140 is not too big for Pac now since he defeated the best there, but 147 still remains a mystery even with DLH fight.

 

Again Hatton's weight was not the concern going into the bout, I've always felt this was a misconception. Most feel that at 147 he was a worse fighter. I would disagree that he is a very similar fighter but his style becomes less efficient against larger fighters.

So in regards to your question while I have no particular insight in regards to PBF's training beyond any other fan, based on what is shown through the media I can infer the following:

1. PBF trains to the weight he is fighting at. It is common that his weight on fight night is very close to his weight at the weigh in. This would be one reason I would disagree that he would be guaranteed to come in at 148 if the fight had been ruled for the 140 limit. Especially when speed will be a premium item in their matchup.

2. Not all weight is created equal and I'm surprised people don't point this out more often. Body composition has a great deal to do with it and of course natural build as fighters carry weight differently.

3. Expanding on point #2, PBF weighing at 140 and rehyrdating to 148 is not the same as PBF training up to 147 (potentially an additional 7 lbs of muscle) and then rehyrdating to 148. There is no question based on what we've seen of PBF's training and physical stature he is a stronger fighter at 147 than he was when he fought at 140.

-cmkb

 

No he wouldnt, and he told us that by saying its only a test to see how great Pac is...

There is a double standard in boxing, one that shouldnt be there...People can say that it because a fighter is a dick, but the truth is in the late 1990's Floyd was a very humble kid, he would get very emotional after wins, and would always say good things about who he was fighting, Yet for what ever reason people still hated on him.

Saying that Floyd needs to be the one that goes up and down in weight is what people were doing on this site two years ago..Floyd needs to fight this guy at that weight, and then drop down two weights and fight that guy, then back up three to fight the other guy..But with Pac everyone needs to come to him..Why is there a difference there???

 

I don't believe he likes to cut. Not that he can't but when he's in the drivers seat, why should he have to?

Of course not everyone carries weight the same, but if you look at Marquez and Floyd, they are similar size. Floyd is bigger but he's made out to be the size of Paul Williams by some people.

Here's the thing.

Floyd has not added that 7lbs of muscle you speak of (Unless he did it while he was off) for any of his fights at 147. Meaning he was 146-149 on fight night. Meaning he could cut to 140 and still weigh 146-149.

Floyd is not much stronger than at 147 than he was at 147 considering he weighed 145 for his 140 fights. And has not be above 150 for any 147 fight.

-cmkb[/quote]

 

For someone that's accomplished what he has and has the wealth he does he sure comes off as a very insecure individual sometimes, trippin' over his words and stutterin' and ****.