SAN ANTONIO – Friday afternoon at the Arneson River Theatre on the River Walk, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and Ireland’s John Duddy both made the 160-pound weight limit for their “Latin Fury 15” main event. Or at least Duddy did. Chavez didn’t. And then Chavez did.
“He was a little bit over,” promoter Bob Arum said afterwards of Chavez’s first trip to the scale. “Then they moved it back (to 160), and he still made it. Nothing to get excited about.”
But that’s exactly what members of the Duddy camp did, at least initially. After Duddy made 159, a crowd gathered for the weighing of Chavez, who climbed on the scale, came close enough to 160 for WBC officials, and then quickly walked to strength and conditioning coach Alex Ariza for the customary swigging of sportsdrink. But Duddy manager Craig Hamilton was unconvinced.
One of Duddy’s cornermen followed Chavez and blocked his path to rehydration, ensuring that if Chavez were in fact over-weight, it would be discovered upon his return to the scale – before he could attribute his missed weight to anything he’d since drank. All went well on Chavez’s second visit to the scale, though, and members of both camps left without further incident.
Friday’s weigh-in happened at a particularly charming spot along the River Walk. With fans gathered on grass-covered amphitheater steps before the stage, participants in the televised portion of Saturday’s card arrived via river taxi, floating up Rio San Antonio then disembarking to take the stage. Above a black “Furia de Mexico” banner hung the five Hugman Bells that commemorate the city’s founding Spanish missions – San Antonio de Valero (Alamo), San Jose, San Juan, Concepcion and Espada.
Also attending the weigh-in were co-main event fighters Marco Antonio Barrera – who weighed 141 pounds – and his opponent Adailton De Jesus, who made 138. Next to the scale were local attractions Gabriel Elizondo and Raul Marquez, two friends who will fight on Saturday’s broadcast; Elizondo weighed 114, and Marquez was a half pound heavier. Finally, Salvador Sanchez II – fighting Tomas Villa in “Latin Fury 15’s” first televised bout – took the scale and weighed 125 1/4, with Villa making 126 1/2.
Saturday’s card will happen at Alamodome and comprise a total of nine bouts. Doors open at 5:30 P.M., and the opening bell is scheduled to ring at 6:30. 15rounds.com will have full ringside coverage.
