Pacquiao won't go beyond 147

MANILA, Philippines - Regardless of who his next opponent will be, WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao is staying within the welterweight limit of 147 pounds.

“Not more than 147 (lbs),” Pacquiao’s lawyer Franklin “Jeng” Gacal texted philstar.com when asked about his client’s preferred weight in his next bout.

So that means prospective opponents like Juan Manuel Marquez, Timothy Bradley and Lamont Peterson – all super lightweights (140 lbs) – would have to be open to the possibility of moving up in weight for a date with the Filipino icon.

WBA super welterweight (154 lbs) champion Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto, for his part, must be willing to go down in weight again for a rematch with Pacquiao. The two fought at a catch weight of 145 lbs in 2009, with Pacquiao brutally battering Cotto for 12 rounds to score a technical knockout.

Cotto is said to be the frontrunner in the Pacquiao sweepstakes.

Floyd Mayweather Jr., whom observers say should be the next Pacquiao opponent, should have no problems since he currently campaigns at welterweight. Mayweather is the current WBC welterweight champion.

In all his fights at welterweight, Pacquiao – who has jumped from one weight class to another throughout his career – had not even reached 147 lbs during the official weigh ins. In fact, in his super welterweight tussle against Antonio Margarito in 2010, the Filipino tipped the scales at 144.6 lbs – way below the contracted catch weight of 150 lbs.

Pacquiao rearranged Margarito’s face later in a one-sided bout to earn his eight world title (WBO super welterweight) in as many weight classes.

He’s comfortable within 147, and that’s where he should stay.