Floyd ate his words on catchweight fights

By demanding a 152-pound catchweight against Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, Floyd Mayweather Jr. contradicted himself on his views about catchweights, a boxing analyst said.

ESPN analyst Skip Bayless said Mayweather ate his words since he had criticized Manny Pacquiao for taking catchweight fights.

“Floyd Mayweather constantly ridiculed Pacquiao, year after year for demanding catchweights before this fight against other opponents,” Bayless said in ESPN’s First Take.

During his two previous junior middleweight fights against Miguel Cotto in 2012 and Oscar De La Hoya in 2007, Mayweather agreed to fight at the 154-pound limit.

But this time, Mayweather demanded a 152-pound catchweight against the bigger Alvarez.

“It's clear to me that Floyd is a little afraid of a bigger and badder man in Canelo,” said Bayless.

Pacquiao himself sought catchweights in his fights against Cotto and Antonio Margarito.

The Cotto fight in 2009 took place at a 145-pound catchweight, and the Margarito bout in 2010 took place at 150 pounds.

Bayless’ First Take co-host, Stephen Smith, said there is nothing wrong with Mayweather demanding a catchweight, especially against a younger and bigger fighter like Alvarez.

“There is absolutely nothing wrong with having an elevated level of concern. That doesn't mean you're scared... this is boxing, this is not basketball or baseball, this is a dude coming in to knock your head off. You have a right to be concerned,” he said.

This is not the first time Mayweather figured in a catchweight bout.

Against Juan Manuel Marquez, Mayweather agreed to fight at 144 pounds to give the Mexican an even match going up from junior welterweight (140 pounds).

Mayweather, however, broke the agreement by coming in two pounds beyond the limit.