Canelo-Lara Fight Week Coverage – Weigh In

By Michael Montero - 07/12/2014 - Comments

A loud, proud and passionate crowd filled into the MGM Grand Garden Arena for today’s weigh in. Numerous boxing personalities like Floyd Mayweather Senior were in the house as well as several fighters, including newly crowned WBC heavyweight titlist Bermane Stiverne. Showtime’s Jimmy Lennon emceed the festivities and the partisan Mexican-American crowd showed their love for their fighters throughout. If the atmosphere today was an indication of what to expect come fight night, it’s appears that we’re in for a special event.

Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (155 Lbs.) vs. Erislandy Lara (155 Lbs.)
The crowd was deafening as both fighters stepped onto the stage; jeers for Lara and cheers for Alvarez. Lara looked cool and calm, smiling as he stepped to the scale and hit the contracted weight of 155 pounds. Canelo was all business for the most part, letting out only a small grin as the crowd erupted when he hit the scale. The Mexican superstar also measured 155 pounds.

The stare down was intense, and it appeared that Lara had more energy. Was it merely showmanship, or evidence that Erislandy has an easier time making weight? Lara promised to take Canelo to Cuban boxing school. “I wanted to break his face right then and there (during the stare down)”, said the Cuban slickster, which drew a huge reaction from the crowd. When Canelo was asked about his opponent’s harsh words, he calmly responded, “We’ll see tomorrow night”.

Abner Mares (126.5 Lbs.) vs. Jonathan Oquendo (126.5 Lbs.)
Crowd favorite Mares is making his return to the ring tomorrow after night after almost a year off. Puerto Rican Oquendo drew boos from the partisan crowd, but looked confident as he stepped to the scales and weighed 126.5 pounds. Mares came in with the same weight, as both camps agreed on the half-pound overture.

Juan Manuel Lopez (130 Lbs.) vs. Francisco Vargas (129 Lbs.)
This bout features another matchup in the storied Puerto Rico versus Mexico boxing rivalry; and another case of youth versus experience in the ring. Undefeated Mexican prospect Vargas tipped the scaled at 129 pounds; while former Puerto Rican champion came in at 130.

Johan Perez (140 Lbs.) vs. Mauricio Herrera (140 Lbs.)
Both Perez and Herrera weighed in at 140 pounds even, looking healthy and in terrific shape. Mexican-American Herrera, who makes Riverside his home, definitely had the crowd support of the largely Mexican crowd.

No doubt Canelo remains a big commodity in boxing, especially in Las Vegas where both his fights this year have taken place. Everything ran business as usual today with controversy or scandal. All promotional obligations have been met by the fighters, all training camps have wrapped up, all final preparations have been made. Now there is nothing left to do but get in the ring and punch their way to glory. See you tomorrow night at the fights!

Questions, comments, hate mail? You know what to do.

Twitter.com/MonteroOnBoxing
Facebook.com/MonteroOnBoxing
YouTube.com/MJBDetroit