Photos/Weights: Jones Strips To 200, Lebedev is 198.6

By Alexey Sukachev (at the scales), photos by Victor Sokolov

Weights are set for the incoming huge rematch between reigning (despite officially suffering a loss) WBA cruiserweight champion Denis Lebedev (25-2, 19 KOs) and former titleholder Guillermo Jones (39-3-2, 31 KOs) of Panama. Team Jones, led by indomitable Don King, was late by about two hours and Jones was forced to take off his pants, and tipped the scales just narrowly at 200 lbs. Lebedev was a little lighter at 198.6.

The fight will take place at Dynamo Palace of Sports in Krylatskoye, Moscow, Russia. Doors are opening at 5 PM LT, and the main event will follow at 11 PM LT and will be televised by the “First” Russian national channel. Referee for the fight is Guiseppe Quartarone of Italy. He will be aided by Jean-Louis Legland (France), Dave Parris (UK) and Carlos Sucre (Venezuela).

The bout will be accompanied by several minor title fights. Andre Klimov (16-1, 8 KOs) of Russia is coming down in weight to take one Francisco Contreras (22-4, 17 KOs) from the Dominican Republic for what was announced as the WBO Intercontinental super featherweight title. Klimov is best known for his wins over contenders John Molina and Ty Barnett. Both Klimov and Contreras were 129.4 for the event.

A fight between undefeated brawlers Arif Magomedov (10-0, 7 KOs), a 2013 debutant, and Columbian import Alex Theran (16-0, 9 KOs) was announced as a bout for the WBA Fedelatin middleweight title. Weights haven’t been disclosed but it was later revealed another weigh-in is pending for both.

Also, Russian battlers Umar Salamov (9-0, 8 KOs) and Gasan Gasanov (7-2-1, 5 KOs) will square off for the vacant WBO Youth light heavyweight title over ten. Gasanov was 173, and Salamov was 0.7 heavier tonight. And in the last title collision ever-engaging Ruslan Semenov (5-26-1, 3 KOs) will try his hard luck against Andrey Knyazev (9-1, 4 KOs) for Knyazev’s national cruiserweight title. Short but power-built Semenov was considerably lighter than his opponent at 188. Knyazev weighed-in at 199.8.

Also on the card:

Ilya Rolgeyzer (2-0) 197 vs. Roman Mirzoev (to be weighed later) – 6 rounds, cruiserweights

Sergey Lipinets (pro debut) 139.7 vs Franklin Varela (21-14, 10 KOs) 139.3 – 6 rounds, light welterweights