By Steve Kim
With much fan-fare last week it was announced by Showtime that Mikey Garcia would be facing Adrien Broner on July 29th (at a venue still to be announced). This bout will be a junior welterweight contest.
Garcia is heading up to 140-pounds for the fight. So the question is: will Broner actually make weight?
Last year Broner (33-2, 24 KO's) lost his WBA 140-pound belt on the scales before he faced Ashley Theophane. Then in his most recent about versus Adrian Granados, the weight limit for that fight was adjusted a few weeks before that fight which took place on February 18th. After several adjustments that contest took place in the welterweight division, where Broner has previously competed and won a world title.
During an appearance on 'the 3 Knockdown Rule' with Mario Lopez on Wednesday, Garcia explained - "Some of the issues that were concerns regarding the fight, Stephen (Espinoza, the head of Showtime Sports) himself brought those issues up. He said, 'Look, I really like that fight but there's something that you just can't really rely on Adrien too much. He could either get in trouble, fail to make weight - we could end up cancelling the show for things like that.'
"We did talk about it, there will be some penalties if he doensn't make weight, which he agreed on right away at 140. So now he wants to get down to 140, he's training in Colorado now. I've got to take it serious."
For Broner, this could be a do-or-die situation for him in terms of being a marquee fighter. For Garcia, who still holds the WBC lightweight crown, it's an opportunity to raise his profile.
"I know (Broner's) taking it serious," said Garcia (36-0, 30 KO's). "Maybe he's getting a second wind of his career."
Steve Kim is the news editor for BoxingScene.com.