By Jake Donovan
All fighters did their part to proceed with Saturday's card, which airs on Showtime, live from Bayamon, Puerto Rico.
In the main event, Danny Garcia makes the first defense of his lineal 140 lb. championship (fifth overall alphabet title defense) against Mauricio Herrera.
The co-feature pits former sparring partners against one another in a 12-round heavyweight elimination bout. Unbeaten knockout artist Deontay Wilder (30-0, 30KO) squares off versus Malik Scott. Wilder, the last American male boxer to capture an Olympic medal, weighed in at 227 lb. Scott, who showed up to the weigh-in with a bag over his head with the slogan "Get Ya Popcorn Ready", came in at 238 lb.
On the undercard, former champs Daniel Ponce de Leon and Juan Manuel 'Juanma' Lopez square off in a rematch to their 2008 encounter. Lopez won his first major title in their June '08 encounter, knocking out Ponce de Leon inside of a round.
The Puerto Rican southpaw has won titles in two weight classes, but has since fallen far from grace. He attempts one last comeback and at a new weight, weighing in at 129 lb. for Saturday's encounter. Ponce de Leon was slightly lighter at 128.75 lb.
WEIGHTS
Danny Garcia, 139.75 lb. vs. Mauricio Herrera, 139.75 lb. - 12 rounds, for Garcia's lineal 140 lb. championship
Deontay Wilder, 227 lb. vs. Malik Scott, 238 lb. - 12 rounds, heavyweight eliminator
Daniel Ponce de Leon, 128.75 lb. vs. Juan Manuel 'Juanma' Lopez, 129 lb. - 12 rounds, super featherweight
Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of Boxingscene.com, as well as a member of Transnational Boxing Ratings Board and the Boxing Writers Association of America. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox
ADD COMMENT VIEW COMMENTS (8)