By Jake Donovan
Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and Andy Lee both successfully made weight for Saturday's middleweight title fight at the Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas.
Chavez Jr. (45-0-1, 31KO) weighed in at 159 lb, while Lee (28-1, 20KO) hit the scales at 159.25lb.
The festivities were a far cry from the last time Chavez Jr. played Texas. The second-generation boxing star struggled through a training camp that included a DUI charge, with the weigh-in considerably delayed. Chavez Jr. starved and dehydrated himself just long enough to weigh in at 160 lb. on the dot for February's 12-round points win over Marco Antonio Rubio.
The fight itself was an entertaining affair, but surrounded by drama both before and after. In addition to the weigh-in follies, the absence of a post-fight drug test prompted Rubio and his handlers to file an official protest. Little more than a 'mea culpa' was offered by both the WBC and the Texas Boxing Commission.
Friday's weigh-in showed a far more dedicated Chavez Jr., a version similar to that of the young lion who looked lean and mean throughout training camp all the way up to his five-round destruction of Peter Manfredo Jr. last November in Houston.
Saturday night marks the fourth straight appearance on HBO for Chavez Jr., who has become one of the network's biggest draws.
Lee appeared twice on HBO, but was left off camera for his last fight, a tune-up win in his adopted Michigan homeland this past March. The bout was a less-than-desirable alternative to a promised appearance on the undercard of a St. Patrick's Day show in New York City, headlined by Sergio Martinez' off-the-canvas knockout win over Matthew Macklin.
Instead, Lee was scratched from the show altogether when his camp and DiBella couldn't come up with a TV-worthy opponent for the budget offered.
The title fight with Chavez is a consolation prize for what the Irish southpaw has craved for more than a year - a shot at Martinez, the division's lineal champ. The storyline suggests that the winner of Saturday's bout will face Martinez in the fall, though seeing is believing. Not to mention that Chavez' camp is already talking about a possible move to 168 after this fight.
The bout will air live on HBO, though the broadcast will open at 10PM ET with the exclusive replay of Tim Bradley's controversial points win over Manny Pacquiao last weekend in Las Vegas.
Full Weigh-In Results:
Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., 159 lb v. Andy Lee, 159.25 lb - 12 rds for Chavez Jr's middleweight title
Miguel Vazquez, 137.75 lb. v. Daniel Attah, 135 lb. - 10 rds, lightweight (non-title)
Roberto Marroquin, 124 lb. v. Arturo Santiago 122.5 lb. - 8 rds, super bantamweight
Juan Saucedo, 145 lb. v. James Harrison, 147.25 lb. - 4 rds, welterweight
Casey Ramos, 131.25 lb. v. Arthur Trevino, 132 lb. - 8 rds, super featherweight
Abraham Han, 159.75 lb. v. Joseph Gomez, 159 lb. - 4 rds, middleweight
Alejandro Gonzalez, Jr. 118 lb v. Leopoldo Gonzalez, 122.75 lb. - 6 rds, super bantamweight
Tremaine Williams, 123 lb v. Theo Johnson, 123 lb - 4 rds, super bantamweight
Adam Lopez, 123 lb v. Raul Carrillo, 123 lb - 4 rds, super bantamweight
Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of Boxingscene.com. Follow Jake on Twitter: @JakeNDaBox
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