Overweight boxer to be fined P13.2M

LOS ANGELES — Go over the weight limit and pay $250,000 or P13.2 million – per pound.

So the Manny Pacquiao-Erik Morales fight would go on as scheduled even if either boxer goes over the 130 lb limit, this clause was included in the fight contract before it was signed

Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach said Shelly Finkel, manager of the Filipino boxer, insisted in having this clause included in the multi-million-dollar contract.

The contract, wherein both fighters are guaranteed at least $2 million, was inked last October. The 12-round, non-title fight is set Jan. 21 at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas.

"So even if Erik Morales weighs 131 pounds, the fight pushes through, Of course minus $250,000 from his purse," said Roach, fanning rumors that the Mexican is having trouble making weight.

If this happens, the money goes directly to Pacquiao’s pocket.

"It’s such a big fight and you’re not gonna cancel it because the other guy is overweight. So we put it in the contract that anybody who weighs heavier will pay $250,000 per pound," said Roach.

While the noted American trainer sees no problem with Pacquiao making the weight at 130 lbs, he said Morales is having so much difficulty just trying to get there.

Pacquiao has been weighing just a little over 130 lbs since he began training here in LA last Dec. 3. He is even expected to weigh a pound or two less than the limit.

"I think Morales has trouble making weight and there are rumors that he’s not gonna make weight," said Roach, reminding a couple of Pinoy scribes of what happened in a recent title bout.

"We want to prevent what happened during the Diego Corrales-Jose Castillo title fight," he said, referring to the Oct. 8 title fight, also at the Thomas and Mack Center.

The fight, where Corrales was supposed to defend his WBC lightweight (135 lb) crown, also didn’t push through when Castillo went over the limit by a pound the day before.

But after some negotiations, the fight went on as scheduled although it was relegated to a non-title fight and that Castillo was meted a hefty fine. Castillo knocked Corrales out in the seventh round.

Many believe that Morales is no longer comfortable at 130 lbs. The first time he faced Pacquiao last March, he barely made the weight, needing a couple of tries and having to strip his clothes off before making it.

Then last September, in a non-title fight against Zahir Raheem wherein he lost, the Mexican boxer weighed in a pound heavier than the 134 lb limit. Rahim’s camp let the fight go on despite this.

All eyes will be on the scales when Pacquiao and Morales are officially weighed in on Jan. 21 at the Margaux Ballroom of the fabulous Wynn resort and casino in Las Vegas.

Pacquiao can make a lot of money just by watching Morales tip the scales.