By Jake Donovan
All fighters made weight for the June 27 show at Braehead Arena in Glasgow, Scotland. The card is being marketed as the region's favorite son, Ricky Burns entering his first non-title fight in nearly four years as he faces Montenegro's Dejan Zlaticanin, but the growing rivalrly between cruiserweights Stephen Simmons and Wadi Camacho spilled over when the two nearly came to blows during Thursday's weigh-in ceremony.
Burns weighed in at 134 lb. for his first bout without a major title at stake since 2010. The 31-year old enjoyed title reigns at 130 lb. and 135 lb. over a 3 1/2 year span before he was unseated in March by unbeaten American lightweight Terence Crawford, who defends the lightweight title one night later versus Yuriorkis Gamboa.
Anxious for a return to the title picture, Burns is ripped and ready for his regional title fight showdown with Zlaticanin, who was slightly lighter at 133.9 lb. for the headlining bout.
Their obligatory staredown proved camera ready, though Burns remained ever the gentleman as he immediately extended his hand to his opponent to wish him well prior to Friday's session.
The same cannot be said for Simmons and Camacho, whose disdain for one another has already been well-documented. Both fighters easily made weight for their regional cruiserweight title fight - Simmons (9-0, 4KO) tipped the scales at 199.6 lb., while Camacho (12-2, 8KO) came at a ripped and lean 198 lb.
Once invited to pose for the staredown, Simmons made a point to get in Camacho's face. The antic wasn't taken lightly by the 28-year old southpaw, who responded in kind by shoving Simmons by the throat. The two were immediately separated and restrained, with Camacho pleading to the crowd that his unbeaten opponent needs to show more respect.
Nothing but pleasatries were exchanged for the super lightweight bout between crowd favorite Willie Limond and Curtis Woodhouse.
Limond (37-4, 10KO) came in at 140 lb for the domestic title unification fight, while Woodhouse (22-6, 13KO) weighed 139.2 lb. Both fighters have won three straight heading into Friday's showdown.
The card will air live on Sky Sports in the United Kingdom.
Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene.com, as well as the Records Keeper for the Transnational Boxing Ratings Board and a member of Boxing Writers Association of America. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox
