Mayweather's weight advantage a masterstroke, says Watt

LAS VEGAS (Reuters) - Floyd Mayweather pulled off a masterstroke by weighing in four pounds heavier than Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez for Saturday's non-title welterweight bout, says Britain's former WBC lightweight champion Jim Watt.

American Mayweather, who is undefeated in 39 professional fights, tipped the scales at 146 pounds (66kgs), two pounds over the contracted limit.

"I don't believe he ever planned to weigh in at 144," Watt, who held the WBC lightweight crown from 1979 to 1981, told Reuters on Friday.

Although Watt did not feel the weight difference would directly affect the outcome of the 12-round bout, he said Mayweather would be able to box better without the pressure to lose extra pounds.

"He had all the advantages going into this bout and now he has another one," the Scot added.

Ten-times world champion Oscar De La Hoya, whose Golden Boy Promotions company handles Marquez, acknowledged the Mexican would be at a significant weight disadvantage.

However he pinpointed the unexpected bonus gained by Marquez when the fight, initially set for July, was postponed by two months after Mayweather suffered a rib injury in training.

"He told me it was a blessing in disguise," said De La Hoya, referring to the extra time Marquez had to adapt to the weight.

"I was worried about my speed back then; now I feel faster than ever,' he was telling me."

Marquez, 50-4-1 (37 KOs), has never fought above 135 pounds and has moved up two weight divisions to take on Mayweather, a natural welterweight.

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A major plus for the 36-year-old Mexican was his counter-punching skill, according to Watt.

"Marquez punches harder than Mayweather," the Briton said. "I imagine the Marquez plan is to go to the body.

"If you're in with a guy who's difficult to catch to the head, then why not go to the body? You can't move the body out the way as you can with the head."

De La Hoya, arguably the biggest name in contemporary boxing, agreed.

"He's a smart boxer, he's a very intelligent fighter but, at the same time, he has that lion's heart," De La Hoya said of Marquez, who has won world titles in three weight divisions.

"He fights to the very end. He can get dropped 10 times and he'll still come back and fight as hard as he can.

"I think that combination of him being smart and fighting to the end is going to be complicated for Mayweather."

Source: reuters.com