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Source: gmanews.tv

-- As expected, Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao easily made the weight limit on the eve of his “Firepower" showdown with Miguel Cotto, checking in at 144 lbs during the official weigh in Friday at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas (Saturday in Manila).

It was the heaviest weight ever for the Pacman, who fought at welterweight only once before, against the legendary Oscar de la Hoya, in which he officially weighed 142 lbs.

WBO welterweight champion Cotto officially tipped the scales at exactly 145-lbs., the agreed catchweight for their title fight. A natural 147-pounder, the Puerto Rican champ was earlier reported to have struggles meeting the stipulated weight and reportedly had to go on a diet to get down to 145. By meeting the stipulated weight, the Boricuan bomber also escaped paying a penalty of $1 million per excess pound.

Pacquiao (49-3-2, 37 KOs), who reportedly plans to enter the ring on fight night at around 149 lbs., will be gunning for a historic major title in a seventh weight division, after earlier conquests at the flyweight, super bantamweight, featherweight, super featherweight, lightweight, and light welterweight classes.

But Cotto (34-1, 27 KOs), who is expected to climb the ring a lot heavier than Pacquiao, is poised to keep the belt and prevent the reigning pound-for-pound king from reaching another career milestone at his expense. Observers, however, noted that the diet regimen that Cotto underwent during training might be a factor come fight night.