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Pacman eats 'big lunch' before weigh-in, crushes candy bar after hitting scale

LAS VEGAS – There were three major takeaways from the Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao weigh-in at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Friday.

No. 1: You can sell anything to anybody if you hype it enough and only charge $10, with 11,500 showing up to watch men step on a scale.

No. 2: The much-discussed size disparity between the fighters is still kind of a shock when you see them together live.

No. 3: Manny Pacquiao has no problem crushing a huge candy bar at any time.

Manny Pacquiao shows off his candy snack at Friday's weigh-in. (AFP)
Manny Pacquiao shows off his candy snack at Friday's weigh-in. (AFP)

As the Filipino star stepped off the scale before an adoring pro-Pacquiao crowd, he was handed what appeared to be a massive Butterfinger Cups candy bar and immediately started chowing down.

Being the naturally smaller man, the 5-foot-6 1/2 Pacquiao had no problem making the 147-pound weight limit, hitting the scales at 145, and he must have felt the need to replace some calories.

Broadcaster Jim Lampley said on the weigh-in telecast that it was reported to him that Pacquiao “ordered a big lunch” before weighing in, which is generally unheard of in the fight game.

We can only guess that monster-sized candy bar was dessert.

[More Mayweather-Pacquiao: Why Manny has a real chance to win]

But that is the one advantage of being the smaller man. Pacquiao, in theory, doesn’t have to starve himself to cut weight, can retain his strength and eat normal meals. Well, normal for Manny.

Boxing analyst Al Bernstein said on the broadcast that Pacquiao “was at 143 earlier this week,” meaning the Pacman may need all the calories he can get. Fettucine alfredo could be Pacquiao’s next opponent Friday night.

The size difference, of course, doesn’t bother Pacquiao.

“I’ve been fighting bigger guys like [5-foot-11 Antonio] Margarito, [5-foot-10 Oscar] De La Hoya, it doesn’t matter to me,” Pacquiao said.

As for the 5-8 Mayweather, he weighed in at 146 and has never had an issue making weight, often being considered a “small” welterweight. Except in this case.

Pacman is chomping down. (Yahoo Sports)
Pacman is chomping down. (Yahoo Sports)

Bernstein guessed that Mayweather could weigh seven or eight pounds more than Pacquiao at fight time.

If Mayweather was concerned or worried about Pacquiao, as Manny’s camp has hinted, he once again didn’t show it. He assumed the laid-back demeanor that has been his style in the leadup to the megafight and maintained a calm, cool tone.

“My frame of mind is just to be smart, listen to this man right here [trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr.], because without my father, I wouldn’t be where I’m at,” Mayweather Jr. said.

No one asked if he was intimidated by how Pacquiao attacked his post-weigh-in snack.

Here’s hoping that if Manny wins, someone brings him a Nestle Crunch the size of one of those ceremonial checks.

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