Manny Pacquiao and Brandon Rios both came in under the 147-pound weight threshold in Friday evening's weigh-in. It was the last time the fighters faced off before their highly anticipated bout on Saturday in Macau, China.
ESPN.com's Dan Rafael reported that Pacquiao tipped the scales at 145 pounds, while Rios checked in at 146.5 pounds:
As Yahoo! Sports' Kevin Iole reported earlier this week, there was a scuffle between the Pacquiao and Rios camps. That was bound to happen at some point, given that Rios and trainer Roberto Garcia made fun of Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach's Parkinson's disease in 2010.
That is one of the notable points of tension between the camps, but there weren't any physical altercations or too much controversy to account for at the weigh-in.
Both boxers remained civil. They were composed and displayed calm countenances in posing face-to-face for promotional photos.
Both Pac-Man and "Bam Bam" Rios did talk to HBO's Max Kellerman amid the spectacle and provided some final thoughts.
Kellerman pressed Pacquiao, implying that the 34-year-old champion has not looked the same over the past couple years and has lost his last two fights. Pacquiao responded by implying this was one of the more rigorous training camps of his entire career and that he got an early start on his preparation.
All indications are, at least on the exterior, that Pacquiao is physically ready to handle his less experienced and less accomplished adversary.
Any shaken confidence Pacquiao may be experiencing after being knocked out in his last fight against arch-rival Juan Manuel Marquez was not on display. A subdued but assuring confidence from Pacquiao showcased a business-like approach.
Rios discussed how he felt very comfortable at the 147-pound weight, and that his youth and determination would be key to beating Pacquiao.
The 27-year-old American further elaborated on the weight issue, alluding to criticism he's faced in the past about it and not being able to make weight. Now that he has, Rios appears full of optimism despite Pacquiao's past prowess.
At one point, Rios did have some parting words for Roach, per the AP via ESPN.com.
"This message goes out to Freddie Roach who said I'm a bum, I'm a fat loser and I can never make weight -- guess what, I made weight, I feel great," said Rios.
Roach fired back, implying that Rios made it out to be some sort of grand achievement that he made the proper weight for this WBO International Welterweight title clash.
"If he can't make 147 he's a joke...He almost couldn't make 135 or 140 and even at 147 he struggled every day, he had plastics on. This is a world title fight, you make weight," said Roach.
Otherwise, the weigh-in went by with minimal drama. Both Pacquiao and Rios can do all their talking with their fists in the ring on Saturday.
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