PBC on Fox Weights: Ugas 146.6, Porter (148.8) Overweight

By Jake Donovan

The last time Shawn Porter entered the ring as a defending titlist, he conceded the crown 12 rounds later.

In his first act as a defending two-time titlist, he is already on the clock to retain the belt without having yet entered the ring.

Porter (29-2-1, 17KOs) checked in at 148.8 pounds ahead of his scheduled 12-round welterweight title defense versus Yordenis Ugas. A two-hour period will be granted to Porter to shed at least 1.8 pounds to get down to the 147-pound divisional limit for their planned PBC on Fox headliner Saturday evening at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif.

Ugas (23-3-, 11KOS), a native of Cuba who now lives and trains in Las Vegas, came in at a trim and fit 146.6 pounds. The bout marks his first crack at a major title, entering on the heels of an eight-fight win streak since returning to the ring in 2016 following a two-year break to clear his head.

Saturday’s bout marks Porter’s first since winning a welterweight title in a 12-round decision over Danny Garcia last September in Brooklyn, New York. This marks the first time in his career in which he’s struggled to this extent at the scales, although Porter has fought throughout his career at a lighter weight than his days as a high school footballer in Ohio.

The main event was the only bout among a massive 14-fight lineup to feature any drama at the scale.

Also on the telecast:

- Resurgent welterweight contender Francisco “Chia” Santana (25-6-1, 12KOs) faces Abel Ramos in a 10-round bout. Santana checked in at 146.6 pounds, same as Arizona’s Ramos (23-3-2, 18KOs);

- Unbeaten heavyweight Efe Ajagba (8-0, 7KOs) weighed 240 pounds for his scheduled eight-round clash with middle-aged gatekeeper Amir Mansour (23-3-1, 16KOs) who tipped the scales at a fighting fit 225 pounds.

Preceding the Fox primetime card will be preliminary action to air live on FS1.

Headlining that portion, former bantamweight titlist Juan Carlos Payano (20-2, 9KOs) takes on baby-faced prospect Damien Vazquez (114-0, 7KOs), the younger brother of former 122-pound king Israel Vazqeuz. Payano weighed 117.8 pounds; Vazquez weighed 117.6 pounds.

Opening the FS1 show, 2016 Lithuanian Olympian and unbeaten welterweight Eimantas Stanionis (7-0, 5KOS) checked in at 149.2 pounds for his scheduled eight round heat with Samuel Figueroa (11-1, 4KOs), a scrappy Puerto Rican slugger who weighed 149.4 pounds.

Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox