Marquez vs Mayweather... or "The weight issue" vs "The wait issue"

Ok, so anybody who has been remotely plugged into the boxing world is aware that the sport's self proclaimed bad guy is back. That's right- Pretty Boy Floyd Joy Money Mayweather, or PBPFJMM (sounds like a suped up pb&j sandwich) is back. And he announced his return on no other day than the match between Ricky Hatton and Manny Pacquiao. Mayweather revealed his plans to fight Juan Manuel Marquez, the current lightweight champion and top pound for pound fighter. Now, on paper this sounds great. But in actuality, many objections are being raised about the legitimacy of this fight. Namely, the size advantage that is said to be had by Mayweather over Marquez. But I'll get to that later. Lets first discuss the retirement of Mayweather, and how it really turned out to just be a long "wait". For what? For names to develop. For champions to emerge. And that is exactly what has happened. Mosley gave Margarito a whooping, Cotto is back in the spotlight and last but not least on that list is a guy named Manny Pacquiao. Don't know if ya heard of him but.. he's kind of a big deal. And a fight between those two could mean big bucks. IF Mayweather doesn't salivate too much at these future opportunities and stays focused on the task in front of him.

Now onto that other homphone- the "weight issue" for Marquez. Is it really all that huge of a disadvantage for Marquez, to have to fight at a contracted catch-weight of 144 pounds? I'm going to have to dissent from the common opinion and say.. no.

I know, I know- this is the part where there are gasps, whispers, and fainting women, right? But hear me out.

The fact that the catch-weight is at 144 means that the two fighters can come in anywhere between 141 and 144. Now is where I give you a little history lesson on the weights that Marquez has been putting up lately.




















The last time Juan Manuel Marquez was in a boxing ring, he weighed 140 pounds. This means that he was able to pull of the knockout over Juan Diaz with the body weight of 140 obviously not 'weighing him down', or 'taking away his reflexes', as some fans have been arguing. And check this next visual out:

Marquez rehydrated to 141 in his 2nd fight with Manny Pacquiao. Now, I'm no scientist or anything- but I think that if anything, the fact that the fight is at 144 is a help to Marquez, since he won't have to cut an unnatural amount of weight and rehydrate so dramatically. Marquez has consistently shown that his body is more comfortable in this weigh range.. And ya can't argue with those numbers, folks:

Ok, theres still this: Mayweather is bigger, right? I know, I know. But you know what? Who cares? This is what boxing is all about and has been about since you can think of. From Henry Armstrong to Roy Jones- fighters have been moving up to prove themselves since forever. And if a certain Manny Pacquiao can do it in this day and age, why can't his supposed rival, Juan Manuel Marquez? I say let the man fight.