Manny Pacquiao, center, weighs in, Tuesday, July 1, 2017, in Brisbane, Australia. Pacquiao, is putting his WBO welterweight world title on the line Sunday, July 2, against the 29-year-old Australian Jeff Horn. (AP Photo/John Pye)
BRISBANE, Australia—Manny Pacquiao didn’t even bother to remove his socks and inhale when he stepped into the weigh scale on Saturday. He knew he’ll make it in a breeze.
When it was Jeff Horn’s turn, however, the Australian challenger approached it with caution and took a deep breath before boarding, not daring to look at what it registered.
Pacquiao checked in under at 146 pounds, while Horn, after an anxious second as the pin swayed back and forth, posted 147, the welterweight limit.
READ: Pacquiao, Horn make weight for fight
Horn’s supporters, who dominated the crowd of a few hundred crammed at a function room of Suncorp Stadium, shouted “Hornet! Hornet! Hornet!” which is the challenger’s moniker.
Not to be outdone, Pacquiao’s entourage countered “Manny! Manny! Manny!”
Other than that, the weigh-in for the “Battle of Brisbane” proceeded smoothly as all 14 boxers, including Filipinos Jerwin Ancajas and Joven Dapidran, made the cutoff weights on their first attempts.
READ: Weighing game: Horn still over 7 pounds overweight for battle
Fact is, Pacquiao had the luxury of having a little breakfast at his suite before proceeding to the venue.
“Everything’s well, it’s a good weight,” said Roach as Pacquiao missed his desired weight by half a pound.
In contrast, Horn came too close to being over, said Roach, who saw Horn immediately eat a banana and gulp down fruit juice after his weight was announced.
READ: Jeff Horn starving, still overweight
Horn had to starve himself, taking only sips of water Thursday and little salad Friday night to shed 7.8 pounds and make weight.
“It’s never easy to cut that many kilos, but I’m feeling a lot better now, putting fluids back in,” said Horn in the podium interview.
According to trainer Glenn Rushton, he was certain that Horn will be able to hurdle the scales.
READ: Pacquiao’s title on the line vs Horn in ‘Battle of Brisbane’
“He has never failed to make weight. Never,” said Rushton, who bared that Horn will slowly rehydrate and will climb the ring Sunday between 71 to 72 kilos (156 to 158) pounds.
Rushton said there was no secret reducing formula, it so happened that Horn perspires profusely. So after doing his gym routines on sweat suits and having a hot bath, Horn was ready to go early Saturday.
While Horn was having a crash diet on fight week, Pacquiao was having an eating binge. Wolfing down three full meals everyday so as not to appear emaciated during his face-off with Horn.
READ: Relaxed and resting
As it turned out, it was Horn who looked haggard and pale, though not exactly physically drained.
Pacquiao, on the other hand, appeared vibrant and fresh as he threw away the short, T-shirt, jogging pants and jacket he was wearing at the podium.