LAS VEGAS – If there’s anything to be said for weigh-ins acting as preambles to super fights, “Firepower” promises to be like nothing boxing has seen for a long time. Then again, what could possibly be the fight-night corollary for a sold-out weigh-in?
That was what happened Friday afternoon at the Grand Garden Arena when the Las Vegas fire marshal – apparently expecting a typically sized gathering – had to close the weigh-in to the public more than 120 minutes before Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto would take the scales, when attendance at the weigh-in swelled to 7,000 raucous spectators.
Pacquiao weighed 144 pounds and hit his signature most-muscular pose with a physique bodybuilders call “shredded.” Cotto, coming down in weight to defend his WBO welterweight title, wore a drawn 145-pound physique better than expected.
The weigh-in was emceed by Jeremy Piven – Ari Gold on HBO’s “Entourage” – who cleverly said before Pacquiao’s climb on the scale: “The only other human being to appear in seven weight classes is Kirstie Alley.”
Shortly after Cotto stepped off the scale, a slight altercation ensued with the fighters’ trainers jawboning and feinting. The short-lived confrontation apparently happened when Cotto’s trainer Jose Santiago noted the weight of his fighter then said to Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach, “One forty-five, asshole!”
The fighters, though, typically remained class acts throughout, posing amiably together for pictures and graciously answering Piven’s odd questions, including one that treated Pacquiao’s pre-fight abstinence program.
Finally, the weigh-in was an uncommonly electric event. It portends only great things for tomorrow’s fight.
15rounds.com will have full ringside coverage of the full card.
Source: 15rounds.com
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