By Rick Reeno
MGM Grand, Las Vegas - Many were caught off-guard at Friday's weigh-in, when the fight between former WBC/WBA junior middleweight champion Saul "Canelo" Alvarez (42-1-1, 30KOs) and Alfredo "Perro" Angulo (22-3, 18KOs) was announced as having a max weight of 155-pounds.
Based on what BoxingScene.com was told, Canelo and his handlers made everyone aware on Friday morning that a weight issue existed, and he required a higher max. The two sides negotiated a deal for 155-pounds. Angulo reportedly received $100,000 dollars for the increase, as the Nevada State Athletic Commission now has him listed as making $850,000 [up from a previous Thursday figure of $750,000].
At the actual weigh-in, Canelo weighed at the max of 155, while Angulo was 154.5.
There will be a second day weigh-in on Saturday morning, where neither fighter can weigh more than 168-pounds. It's not clear if there is a monetary penalty if either fighter is over the 168 max, but likely they would have to renegotiate once again if someone blew the max agreement.
"I think Canelo is okay [to continue fighting at] 154. If it would have been a title fight, I'm sure everyone would have made 154. It's not a title fight. It was agreed between the two camps to change the weight to 155-pounds and it's consistent with the Nevada rules....with plus or minus one pound. Initially the fight was contracted at 154 but then both parties agreed to 155. Everybody is happy with whatever arraignments were made. Both guys were okay with 155 and both guys weighed in over 154. I think what both parties agreed to is both [can weigh] no more than 168 [tomorrow morning]," Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer told BoxingScene.com.
Some sources indicate that Angulo was paid $100,000 because Canelo's handlers were not sure, at least this morning, that Canelo would be able to even make 155. Schaefer had not knowledge of those particular details, but he doesn't anticipate any further problems related to the weight.
