Pound for Pound king and WBO welterweight boxing champion Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao and his lawyer Franklin Gacal are looking to get the upcoming March 13, fight with Joshua Clottey to be at 145 pounds instead of the 147 pound weight limit.
Clottey already has trouble making 147 pounds and will have to severely dehydrate his body which could be very dangerous to his health come fight night.
Dehydration would leave the fighter weak and reduce the fluids in the brain causing the brain to swell from heavy punches if the fighter doesn’t rehydrate properly.
Manny Pacquiao is no stranger to the effects of dehydration when he failed to make the 112 pound weight in his WBC flyweight title fight against Thai fighter Medgoen Singsurat and suffered in the fight he had no energy and was knocked out with a body shot in the third round of the championship bout.
The majority of boxing deaths have been associated with the lower weight classes where the fighters cut weight and many times reduce fluids and food a few days before the fight to insure that they make the required weight limit.
Pacquiao came under fire from boxing fans when he fought for the WBO welterweight title against Miguel Cotto at a catchweight of 145 pounds.
If Pacquiao’s camp is insisting on a catchweight against Joshua Clottey he could receive the same type of backlash from fans which could reduce his pay per view sales.
Freddie Roach, Bob Arum and Wakee Salud have all expressed that the fight will be at 147 pounds, recently Michael Koncz who is very close to Manny Pacquiao said the fight will be at 144 pounds but later retracted his statement.
Now Pacquiao lawyer Franklin Gacal told Philstar that he wants the fight to be at 145 pounds because Clottey is too big compared to Pacquiao.
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