Freddie Roach, the American trainer of Pacquiao, said the Filipino super featherweight weighed at 129 lbs Thursday afternoon. He was at around 137 when he started training in Los Angeles last Dec. 3.
Slowly but surely, Pacquiao has made the weight for Saturday’s showdown with Morales at the Thomas and Mack Center inside the UNLV campus, home of the Runnin Rebels in the NCAA.
In contrast, Morales is said to be having trouble making the weight. The last time he fought last September, he weighed 134 lbs against Zahir Raheem for a non-title bout, which the Mexican superstar lost.
But Morales seemed in good shape when he arrived here in Las Vegas last Tuesday. During the final presscon the following day, he looked sharp and out of danger, too, although he said he was still a pound-and-a-half over the limit.
Thursday night, he was seen at the grand lobby of the Wynn Las Vegas, moving around the casino area with members of his team. The fact that he’s out on his free time could mean that he’s safely inside the limit.
Under the fight contract, any boxer who weighs above the 130 lb limit will be charged $250,000 per pound.
Sources said the contract also states that Morales cannot weigh more than 140 lbs on the day of the fight.
The official weigh-in is set Friday 3 p.m. at the Margaux Ballroom of the most expensive hotel in Las Vegas today. Supporters of both fighters are expected to come. The weigh-in is open to the public.
After the official weigh-in, boxers can actually step into the ring 10 lbs heavier after only 24 hours. On fight night, Pacquiao is expected to weigh around 138 lbs, and Morales on the shade of 140.
NOTES: Manny Pacquiao fan Cris Aquino shelled out $800, including the $300 broker’s fee, so that US Customs would release his fight souvenirs that were confiscated from him at the Las Vegas International Airport upon his arrival Tuesday evening. Cris brought in a box containing 41 jackets and 16 Pacquiao t-shirts as giveaways to his friends coming over to see the fight. He’s done this in most of Pacquiao’s previous fights in the US and this is the first time that his goods were confiscated. He said the snafu only makes the items more "collectible." Still, he said he has no plans of selling them. Cris, a gun enthusiast and a very close friend of the Filipino boxer, will be on top of the ring during the pre-fight introduction. He’ll be there carrying and waving the Philippine flag. And proudly wearing his Pacquiao jacket, too.