"There are daunting realities to the challenge at hand. The bout is taking place at 144 pounds, familiar territory for the welterweight Mayweather, but 9 pounds heavier than Marquez has ever weighed in the ring," stated the narrator in the first installment of HBO's Mayweather/Marquez 24/7, revealing the catch-weight at which former welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. and lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez are set to meet at for their anticipated September 19 clash.
Initially, there was speculation as to exactly what weight the two fighters would meet at. Although it was believed that both fighters would meet at a catch-weight of 143 or 144 pounds, rumors began to surface that the fight would actually take place at the welterweight limit of 147 pounds. During a conference call to promote the fight, neither side would confirm the actual contract weight, stating that the fight was a welterweight bout, meaning anything between 141 and 147 pounds. Oscar De La Hoya would later reveal that the plan was to keep the catch-weight a mystery to get people to tune-in to the weigh-in on September 18th.
With the fight just weeks away and the promotion of the event in full swing, it looks like the latest episode of 24/7 has put the question to rest as to what weight the two fighters will meet at. "I think that this is the most important fight of my career. Most important because I am fighting the best pound-for-pound boxer at a weight that is not mine, but a weight that I will reach strong and intend to win at," Marquez reiterated.