05.11.05 – By Wray Edwards, Photos © Wray Edwards – Amid the serene beauty of the High Sierras and Lake Tahoe sits the resort town of South Lake Tahoe. This afternoon a group of highly trained warriors, with other than serenity on their minds, appeared to be weighed in for some high-impact excitement. They met on the scales at the Circus Maximus Showroom at Caesars Tahoe..
First up was undefeated (20-0, 16KOs) IBF/IBO Super Middleweight Champion Jeff Lacy. Fresh from his stunning victory over Robin Reid in Tampa, he weighed in at 168.
Next came the challenger thirty-eight year old Scotty Pemberton (29-3-1, 24KOs) who also met the professional requirement of 168.
Then Jeff and Scott faced off.
Then the IBO Bantamweight Champ Silence Mabuza (18-0, 15KOs) stepped on the scales to qualify at 118 Lbs. for the unification bout.
Then it happened…the IBF Bantamweight Champion Rafael Marquez (34-3, 30KOs) tipped the scales at a bit too pudgy 118.25. He was given regulation time to shave the ounces. About an hour later Marquez re-appeared at the scales to suck-it-up to make the 118 mark, but not until he shed his shorts to do so.
BTW ESB had a quick word with Mr. Shaw about the possibility of Jeff Lacy moving up to party with Antonio Tarver. He didn’t say no. Interesting.
This town is located in a mountain paradise which seems to contradict the violence planned for this Saturday night. It is quite a contrast to ponder such natural beauty as a prelude to the excitement and drama of our curious and elegant sport. See you at the fights.
Photos © Wray Edwards
Photo: TOM CASINO/SHOWTIME – Snarling challenger Scott Pemberton (left) and IBF super middleweight champion Jeff Lacy square off after Friday’s weigh-in at Caesars Tahoe. Both boxers tipped the scales at the division-limit 168 pounds for their world title fight tomorrow/Saturday on SHOWTIME (9 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on west coast).
Photo: TOM CASINO/SHOWTIME – IBF bantamweight champion Rafael Marquez — after a couple of tries — and undefeated challenger Silence Mabuza each weighed 118 pounds Friday for their world title fight tomorrow/Saturday on SHOWTIME (9 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on west coast).
