If Floyd Mayweather Jr. does indeed choose to fight Sergio Martinez, would a catchweight be shameful?

Question

"Number One-Numero Uno" Mayweather's comeback against Marquez was contracted at 144 lbs catchweight to accommodate the smaller Marquez. Now, Mayweather chose to come in at two pounds heavier and made it alot more tougher for Marquez. PBF shutout Marquez who simply was the bigger man in that ring. Now, one can argue that PBF would have still won even if PBF came in at those 144 lbs, but who knows. Just like we'll never know if had Cotto come in at 147 lbs instead of the 145 lbs Pacquiao had asked for, that Cotto would have beaten Pac or if we would have gotten the same Round 12 TKO. 

Now, my question, do you think that if Mayweather does take a fight with Martinez for the middleweight championship and PBF asks for a catchweight, at let's say 156 lbs since Martinez himself said that he could make 154 lbs with not that much trouble, would that be wrong of him to ask since he himself didn't go by a contracted catchweight? This is why I doubt that PBF would fight Martinez because 160 lbs is too big of a jump and even though Martinez is a former welterweight, I also doubt that Mayweather would ask for a catchweight and I wouldn't put it past me that Martinez would ignore the catchweight and go for the full comfortable 160 lbs. Thoughts? Thanks and God Bless!

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

Hey John,

While I do believe that catchweights have took a hit when Pacquiao and Mayweather fought on it, it has been done many times over in boxing. Oscar De La Hoya, Pernell Whitaker, Julio Cesar Chavez, Henry Armstrong, Sugar Ray Leonard, Bernad Hopkins, Jack Briton, Ted Lewis, Barney Ross, and Tony Canzoneri have all fought at catchweights bouts for title belts. Indeed, this is not something new, it only became new perhaps to some fans when Pacquaio fought Cotto at 145 or Marquez fought Mayweather at 144. It is in my honest opinion that both Mayweather and Cotto had the advantage at the catchweights because they are naturally bigger. Never in Cotto's career have he ever weighted 147 flat in weigh in except his bout with Antonio Margarito which he lost. Cotto has always maintained a 146 pounds weight in all of his fights at 147, against Judah, Mosley, Jennings, Gomez, Quintana, or Clottey. Mayweather is also not a big welterweight and he can easily fight at a comfortable 144, but the he gained extra 2 pounds to maximize as much advantage as possible.  

If Mayweather indeed fight Martinez at a catchweight, it would not be shameful given to the fact that Mayweather is the naturally smaller man and he has a greater popularity and is higher ranked in the p4p list. Of course most fans would prefer for Floyd to fight Martinez at 154 even though Martinez has already vacated his title at 154 as he said he feels more physically comfortable at 160. I have always been against Pacquaio fighting Cotto at 145 because I felt many would criticize him. I dont think the outcome would have been the same as Cotto outweigh Pacquaio on fight night by 15 pounds, but the bottom line is there is always that "if".

nepster · Answer

I don't think catchweights are shameful at all.  Martinez fought Cintron at Junior Middleweight a little more than a year ago, and if he thinks he can lose the weight in a healthy manner and still be effective in the ring, then there's absolutely no shame in meeting in the middle for a match, and it's definity not shameful for Floyd who will be jumping up two weight classes to fight Martinez. If Martinez wins, then of course, haters will say he only won because he fought a bloated Floyd, but if FLoyd thinks he can still be effective at 156, then all the power to him. However, he must realize that if fights outside his ideal weight class, which I think is welter, then he WILL  be slower, and his punches will not have as much effect on a middleweight as it would a welter.  Knowing that, i would give Floyd mad props for taking a guy as dangerous as Martinez at a higher weight class. 

If Martinez volunteers to put his belt on the line, more power to him as well.  My one problem with catchweights isn't wether or not a fight is fought at catchweights, it's being forced to put your belt on the line (Pac vs. Cotto).  I think the Pac Cotto fight would have had the same result whether or not it was fought at 145 or 155, but I disagreed with Cotto being forced to put his belt on the line.  Other catchweight championship fights (which are a lot more common than people remember), the title holder volunteered to put their belt on the line (if memory serves me right), Cotto was forced by the Bob Father.

Albert · Answer

I personally don't like catchweights. Floyd could probably make 154 easily. That's 8 to Floyd and 6 to Martinez. Seems pretty even and seems fair without any catch bs.

Anyway, Martinez is more likely to negotiate better than Pac for a fight. He wants Floyd so he could probably make arrangements if Floyd wants it without hesitation.

Anonymous · Answer

Catchweights are bad, who knows what affect it has to the fighters body who is forcing himself to go down a couple of more pounds. And fighters never make excuses, so even when they lose they won't point to the catch-weight for being one of the reason.

W. J. Rice · Answer

I honestly think catchweights are generally shameful.

Anonymous · Answer

If Sergio gets a chance to fight the PPV king, Sergio better follow the king's rules.

Money could beat Sergio at a catchweight of 175 lbs.

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If Floyd Mayweather Jr. does indeed choose to fight Sergio Martinez, would a catchweight be shameful?

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