Fans, media, fighters and their teams gathered at the StubHub Center in Carson, California this afternoon, as the official weigh-ins for tomorrow’s Showtime Boxing tripleheader took place.
Omar Figueroa 23-0-1 (17KO) vs. Daniel Estrada 32-2-1(24KO)
Lightweight title bout
Figueroa returns to the StubHub Center, where he narrowly escaped with a controversial split decision victory over Jerry Belmontes in April. For Estrada, this is his first bout outside of his native Mexico, and easily the biggest stage he’s ever fought on. Estrada hit the scales first, weighing in at 134.5 pounds; while Figueroa came in right at the lightweight limit of 135 pounds.
Sakio Bika 32-5-3 (21KO) vs. Anthony Dirrell 26-0-1 (22KO)
Super middleweight title bout
Rematch! Their first bout in New York last December resulted in a split decision win for Bika; now the second fight takes place 2,800 miles away in California. Neither man has fought since that first contest, so look for a little ring rust early on. Dirrell hit the scales at 168 pounds even, while Bika weighed in at 167.75 pounds.
Shawn Porter 24-0-1 (15KO) vs. Kell Brook 32-0 (22KO)
Welterweight title bout
Someone’s “0” has got to go! Brook, the taller, longer fighter, leaves his native UK to challenge for his first world title. Porter is looking to ride the momentum of his dominant victory over former titlist Paulie Malignaggi in April. Brook weighed in at 146.5 pounds while Porter, who stepped onto the scale naked with his team holding up a towel in front of him, came in at 146.75 pounds. Was the towel an indication that Porter had trouble making weight, or a psychological ploy to make his opponent feel overconfident? You can never know in boxing.
Notable undercard bouts (broadcast on Showtime Extreme):
Heavyweight knockout artist Deontay Wilder 31-0 (31KO) looks to stay busy against journeyman Jason Gavern 25-16-4 (11KO). If all goes according to script Wilder gets a few rounds in, scores a violent KO on cable television, and lines up a November title fight against Bermane Stiverne. Wilder weighed 224 pounds while Gavern came in at 247 pounds. It’s scheduled for ten rounds, but don’t expect it to go beyond the third.
Japan-based Venezuelan Jorge Linares 36-3 (23KO) faces journeyman Ira Terry 26-11 (16KO) in a lightweight bout. Terry, who comes in having lost 9 of his last 12 fights, weighed in at 132 pounds; while Linares weighed 137. This is another one where you might not want to blink as one punch will likely end it.
Undefeated heavyweight prospect Dominic Breazeale 11-0 (10KO), of nearby Anaheim California, faces Utah native Billy Zumbrun 27-13-1 (16KO) in a scheduled 8-rounder. Zumbrun weighed in at 233 pounds, while Breazeale came in at 250 even.
Standout Irish amateur Jason Quigley 1-0 (1KO) returns after making his pro debut just last month; facing Mexican Fernando Najera 1-3 (0KO) in a middleweight bout. Najera weighed 158.25 pounds, while Quigley weighed 161 pounds
See you at the fights tomorrow night! Don’t forget to check out Showtime Extreme for the undercard before flipping over to “regular” Showtime for the tripleheader.
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