Amazing Fan Atmosphere at Cotto-Canelo Weigh-In

By Boxing News - 11/20/2015 - Comments

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By Michael Montero, photos by Tiffany Lam This writer has been vocal about the lack of buzz during fight week for Miguel Cotto – Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, but all of that changed today. A massive line of fans began forming at the Mandalay Bay early this morning for today’s weigh in. Thousands cheered for pride of country – Mexico, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Japan and more – as they anxiously waited for the fighters to arrive.

The energy built as the doors to the Mandalay Bay events center opened at 1:00pm. By the time the proceedings finally began just after 2:30pm, the atmosphere was absolutely electric.

Even with all of the last minute issues – from Andre Ward pulling out of the card to Cotto being stripped by the WBC – the fans have shown up. It just goes to show you that when a good match up is made between two popular fighters, the people respond. A record amount of people showed up for the so-called “fight of the century” on May 2nd and ultimately felt ripped off. But for the fans that made the trek to Las Vegas for Cotto-Canelo, they expect to get their money’s worth. All eight combatants in the four televised fights on the HBO boxing PPV scheduled to begin at 6:00pm Pacific Time tomorrow night made their contractually obligated weight. There was no trash talking, no petty antics, just one last task before getting it he ring tomorrow night.

The only surprise today was centered on one of the un-televised bouts. Former IBF bantamweight titlist Randy Caballero failed to make the 118 pound limit buy an astonishing 5.5 pounds and was immediately stripped of his title. His scheduled opponent, Lee Haskins, obviously put in the work required, weighing in at 117.5. Caballero’s people tried to negotiate with Haskins, the interim titlist, offering him extra money. But the British fighter wisely declined and was immediately elevated to “full” titlist. It was a real disappointment from Caballero, who was set to return from a long layoff due to injury. The Coachella, California native has not fought since last October, just blew a massive opportunity and his career appears to be in limbo.

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Official weight results:

Miguel Cotto 153.5lbs, Saul Alvarez 155lbs
Takashi Miura 130lbs, Francisco Vargas 129.5lbs
Guillermo Rigondeaux 121.5lbs, Drian Francisco 121lbs
Jason Velez 125.5lbs, Ronny Rios 125.5lbs
(untelevised bouts)
Randy Caballero 123.5lbs, Lee Haskins 117.5lbs (fight called off)
Zhang Zhilei 264lbs, Juan Goode 244lbs

Questions, comments, hate mail – you know what to do. Twitter / Youtube / Facebook / Instagram: @MonteroOnBoxing



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