Billy’s Boxing Blog

Photo-Chop: Bret “The Threat” Newton 

With a confidentiality clause slapped into the Mayweather vs. Marquez contracts no one was allowed to utter a word about the contracted/negotiated weight, but anyone with a lick of boxing sense knew there was no way Marquez would have agreed to allow Floyd to come into this fight at the 147 pound welterweight limit.

As it was revealed today for the first time there was a “mums the word” stipulated weight maximum of 144 pounds and there would be a $300,000 fine for every pound over that limit. As we now know Floyd came in at 146 pounds and now Marquez is $600,000 richer.

It’s my opinion that just like the contract Floyd signed when he “purchased” his recently repossessed Maybach wheels, the man who calls himself “Money” had no intention on living up to his end of the deal.

Why you ask?

Because Mayweather knows that anything other than a smashing victory over Marquez will put him in the back seat of any future fight negotiations. Especially if those talks include the name of Manny Pacquiao . Without an impressive victory over Marquez, Floyd’s future earning power will be in the tank.

Speaking of Marquez, the tough lightweight came in at a career high 142 pounds and it’s pretty safe to assume he won’t be adding much more weight before Saturday nights brawl. On the other hand you have Mayweather who will more than likely come in to the fight at 150 pounds if not higher. It’s been pretty clear to anyone paying attention that this was Mayweathers plan all along, it’s not a difficult smoke screen to see through.

Not coincidentally both the HBO & L.A. Times polls have Marquez the clear favorite of the fans to defeat Floyd. In reality it may be a case of a lot more people picking with their hearts rather than their heads, but with the tired act Mayweather has been putting on over the past few weeks it’s easy to understand. 

From the rib injury he refuses to talk about to the contracted weight he did not try to make and a $600k over the weight fine, Floyd Mayweather has once again done everything he can to tip the scales heavily to his side to ensure a victory. It’s a steep price to pay but Mayweather was willing to roll the dice on this one. Maybe he felt he had no other choice.

The self proclaimed “Cash Cow” of boxing will be $600,000 short in the paycheck tomorrow night and if boxing fans get their wish his paycheck won’t be the only thing he comes up on the short end of.

 Update:  I just got back into my room after an early press conference a la Golden Boy and it has become evident that Floyd Mayweather got Juan Manuel Marquez to waive the per pound penalty on the contract.  As the story goes Mayweather was some 8 pounds overweight 8 days before the fight and from that point on he was looking for an “out” in the penalty clause in the contract. He got his wish when Marquez waived the stipulation.

This however does not change the point of my story, which is this:

Floyd Mayweather never intended on coming in at the agreed on upon 144 pound limit and he would have done whatever it took to fight Marquez at 147 or higher. He was willing to eat the fine if need be. But because of the huge financial gains that were on the line for ALL parties concerned, Mayweather was once again allowed to throw a little tantrum and get his way.

I’d like to go on a rant about enabling right now. You know… dysfunctional approaches that are intended to help but in fact may perpetuate a problem (Floyd). A common theme of enabling in this latter sense is that third parties (Golden Boy Promotions, Marquez) take responsibility, blame, or make accommodations for a person’s harmful conduct (often with the best of intentions, or from fear or insecurity which inhibits action). The practical effect is that the person themselves (again Floyd) does not have to do so, and is shielded from awareness of the harm it may do, and the need or pressure to change. It is a major environmental cause of these kinds of compulsive problems.

But that rant wouldn’t help now…the damage has been done.

Stay tuned to www.Pound4Pound.com for the Mayweather vs. Marquez full fight report

This entry was posted on Saturday, September 19th, 2009 at 4:30 am and is filed under Boxing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.