Could the 152 lb catch wait work in Canelo's favor?

So I was thinking about the 152 pound catch weight for Canelo vs Mayweather. Well most people seem to think that it was something Mayweather demanded as opposed to facing him at 154. How common is it for 154 lb titles to be defended at a catch weight? I could see a non title fight being at a catch weight, it's also puzzling to me that Mayweather has competed at the 154 limit and had great success. he usually comes in around 150 pounds and has 4 less pounds to be more elusive and fleet footed.

by having the fight at a 152 lb limit, basically he's forcing Canelo to work harder in the gym. And couldn't that work to Canelo's favor? Canelo is young and it's easier to lose weight when you're young. It might not be easy for Canelo to lose those few pounds, but if he works hard in the gym, and if he doesn't drain himself, which is a big if, could he actually be a better boxer at 152 then he would be at 154?

He'll be closer to Mayweather's weight. In his last fight, Canelo showed some very slick boxing skills, with 2 or 3 less pounds, could that make Canelo a bit faster and a tougher opponent for Mayweather?

This is essentially a light middleweight unication fight, and I find it strange for a unification fight that the limit wouldn't be 154. Canelo won the WBA World light middleweight title when he defeated Austin Trout, the same title that Cotto won when he defeated Yuri Foreman. Cotto never defended that title, and it was won when Rigoberto Alvarez defeated Nobuhiro Ishida in a vacant title match, then Trout won it when he defeated Rigoberto Alvarez. Trout defended that title 5 times and was 5-0 competing for that title until his loss to Canelo.

But it looks like Canelo has relinquished that title and will instead put up his WBC light middleweight title he's held for 2 years. The WBA World light middleweight title is now vacant and Angulo and Lara will fight for that vacant title this weekend.

Mayweather will be putting up his WBA Super World light middleweight title that he won from Cotto. So it is really a unification fight, but are the most prestigous middleweight belts on the line?

Is it possible that that WBA World Light Middleweight title is more strict with a 154 pound limit then the WBA Super or the WBC world title? Did Canelo have to reliniquish that title and agree to a 152 catch weight to be able to fight Mayweather? And more importantly, could that catch weight work to Canelo's advantage if he trains harder improves his speed and doesn't drain himself?

 

Yeah well he weight 153 lbs for Trout because it was a 154-limit belt. You generally want to be at least a pound or two under the weight limit towards the end of training camp so you don't have to work off pounds in the week leading up to the fight.

Look what happened when Prince Hamed fought Barrera. He had to lose 2 and a half stone in 8 weeks, and he didn't make weight until the day of the fight, he had to spend fight week in a hot steam room working out, and it sapped him of all his energy.

With the 154 pound limit, Canelo didn't have to get down below 153, he just had to not eat too much and work out a little bit. but with a 152 pound limit, to be safe, he'll have to try to get down to 150 or 151. Look at Mayweather, he doesn't even come close to the 154 pound limit. He's way below it at 150, and even at the 147 limit, he came in at 146. That's the difference between Mayweather and most fighters. He works hard in camp so he dosn't have to kill himself to make weight the week of the fight. that's why he's so relaxed in the ring.

I'm just asking if you think that strategy could backfire if Canelo puts in the work in the gym to get ripped and down to 150 or 151. I'm confused by what Mayweather said about the 152 limit, he said somehting like Canelo could weigh 200 pounds or something. but if Canelo comes in over 152, then does it become a non-title fight?

I don't know how that makes sense because he's defending the same title he defended against Trout when he weight 153 pounds. Is this Mayweather's way of gaining the upper hand subliminally over Canelo? Maybe Canelo had to agree to Mayweather's terms if he wanted to fight Mayweather, since Mayweather is the cash cow? what do you think?

 

It's not stupid. This is what I think happened. Both Floyd and Canelo have light middleweight titles. Canelo had 2 titles and Floyd had 1. Floyd said to Canelo something like "you can do whatever you want, but my Super Light Middleweight title will be defended at a 152 pound limit." Floyd was probably like "take it or leave it".

Canelo, wanting a fight with Mayweather, reluctantly agreed to Mayweather's terms to secure a fight with Mayweather. It sounds like the 152 lb limit is only for Mayweather's title. If Canelo weighed in at 153 or 154, what would happen? would Canelo's title be on the line but not Mayweather's? I think this is Mayweather's way to use his clout to get the upper hand.

Reportedly the WBC wanted Canelo to give up his newly won WBA title as a pre-requisite to fight Mayweather. Canelo reportedly had to choose which title he wanted to keep. I'm seeing conflicting reports on how many titles are up for grabs in Floyd vs Canelo. ABC news is saying that 4 titles are up for grabs, but boxrec only lists two titles up for grabs and lists the now apparantly *vacant* WBA World Light Middleweight title being contested this weekend in Angulo vs Lara.

Boxrec is usually correct, so if that is true, then it looks like Canelo was essnetially forced to relinquish his WBA title, the title he just won, and have to get down to 152 for Mayweather.

This is very ridiculous if you ask me. Canelo had two titles at this weight, Floyd only had 1, and Floyd basically is defending his title at 152 pound limit. What should really have happened was all 3 titles should have been defended so this could be a mega fight. the 152 catch weight and Canelo being essentially stripped of his newly won title is strange, isn't it? Canelo won that title, and I don't think it's fair to strip him of it and give it to the winner of Angulo vs Lara. Even if Canelo didn't defend that WBA title vs Mayweather, it was his title, and I don't see how it's fair for him to lose that title simply due to Mayweather's odd demand for his title being fought at 152.

 

Well JohnAnthony, this thread asks the question "could the 152 lb catch weight work in Canelo's favor?" Could a hard training camp where he can lose a few pounds actually make it a better fight? That's what I'm asking the eastside boxing community?

But, as a side note, I think it is important to point out the situation with the belts. I don't understand why he had to give up his WBA World Light Middleweight title. Do you? This probably deserves its own thread, don't you think? How important is Mayweather's "Super" Light Middle weight title? Is that more prestigous then the WBA and WBC World Light Middleweight title? haven't those been around for longer? (i'm asking you guys which titles are more prestigous)

if all Canelo cared about was fighting Mayweather, he should have said "I have 2 titles, you have 1. They are 154 pound titles. If you want me to put my titles on the line, then lets have the fight at 154. If you want to defend your title at 152 pounds, then fine, but then I'm only going to put one of my two titles on the line...at 154" Of course Canelo doesn't speak much english and isn't the master of negotiations that Floyd is. (nor is he the gambler that Floyd is when it comes to betting and playing the odds...Floyd does this for fun, reportedly he bet $5.9 million on the Heat Pacers Game 7)

I think this raises an important question about the belts. Because I remember also that when Cotto beat Yuri Foreman, he also gave up that WBA World Light Middleweight Title. I don't see why Canelo couldn't keep his WBA title and put the WBC title on the line if Floyd wanted to defend his title at 152 lbs or have all 3 titles defended at 154 pounds. (Mayweather could then pick up two titles if he beat Canelo at 154)

But now Canelo apparantly is left with only 1 title, and if he weighs 153 or 154 pounds, then Mayweather's title won't be on the line, and his will! So he could go from having 2 titles to none if he loses a decision to Mayweather...at 152 pounds or below.

And what I'm asking is, well damn that's a lot to give away for a fight with Mayweather. But obviously if he beats Mayweather then it'll be worth it. That's why I'm asking could this 152 lb catch weight thing work to his favor? could he just work his ass off and get down to 150 or 151 and be in perfect shape, lighter, sharper, quick, and give Mayweather fits? This seems to me to be extra motiviation for Canelo. He had to give up a title he just won and had to cater to Mayweather's demands.

 

Yeah what I'm thinking is Canelo really could use this as motiviation. lets say he works harder in the gym then ever before and chisels down to 150 or 151. And Floyd is coming up from 146, so he can basically take it easy, gain a few pounds and just cruise into the bout.

Floyd is coming up a few pounds from welter, and Canelo is forced to work hard and go down a few pounds. Isn't this a concerted strategy by Mayweather to drain Canelo "just a little bit"? Or can Canelo really lose a few pounds and really have it make him a better fighter? that's the real question, how hard is Canelo prepared to work in camp?

And what do you think about the situation with the belts? Canelo apparantly dropping his WBA LM World title? Didn't Cotto do the same thing after he beat Yuri Foreman? What's going on between the WBC and WBA? even the idea of a catch weight to defend a title? Why should you have to give up a belt? Don't you think Canelo would gladly defend both his titles if he could have the fight at 154? instead he has to give one to Lara or Angulo and get down to 152 just to have a chance at Mayweather's 154 pound title? Is the WBC and WBA simply reacting to whatever Mayweather wants? I thought catch weights were generally for non title fights.