Floyd Mayweather And Manny Pacquiao Weighed In Before Screaming Fans
According to U.S. News, Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao weighed in on Friday, the day before the “Fight of the Century.” Both boxers’ weight was below the welterweight limit. The weigh-in was witnessed by a packed arena of screaming, singing fans who got a glimpse of the two boxers who will fight on Saturday after a five-year wait.
The MGM Grand Garden Arena was filled with approximately 11,500 fans who got to see the boxers in person before Saturday’s fight. This was probably the only chance to see Mayweather and Pacquiao because only 500 tickets were sold to the public for the actual fight.
“Pacquiao (57-5-2, 38 KOs) stepped on the scales first and weighed in at 145 pounds. That was two pounds below the welterweight limit. Mayweather (47-0, 26 KOs) stepped on the scales and weighed in at 146 pounds. That was one pound below the welterweight limit of 147 pounds.”
From the roar of the crowd, it appeared that most of the people showed support for Pacquiao, who raised both arms with finger V’s for victory. Mayweather was booed repeatedly when his image appeared on the arena scoreboards, but he also acknowledged his healthy cheering section with waves and a raised fist.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMKW7Z9WXFI
Usually there is no fee for the weigh-in according to Nevada’s law. An exception was made this time for fans to pay $10 admission to avoid the thousands of people rushing in as they have done in the past. Money raised from the weigh-in will go to charity, according to Yahoo! Sports.
Fans began arriving early and formed long lines Friday morning to get into the MGM Grand. The first fans got into the building four hours before Mayweather and Pacquiao took to the stage to be weighed.
Since fans had to wait so long, entertainment was provided for them by hip-hop pioneer Doug E. Fresh who rapped and beatboxed on stage.
A professional boxer may weigh more between fights than at the time of a fight. A boxer must train to get down to fighting weight. The weigh-in always take place the day before the fight. Boxers usually stand on the scales barefoot and without gloves.
If a boxer is over the weight limit, he may strip naked to make the weight if the excess is rather small. He could also try again later after losing weight through dehydration by vigorous exercise in a steam room. If the excess weight is too great, the boxer will be determined unfit for the fight. The fight may be cancelled, with the over weight boxer sanctioned, or the fight may proceed as a non-title fight.
[Image via AFP Photo/Frederic J. Brown]
