SAN ANTONIO – Somehow, someway, the show goes on.
Friday’s weigh-in added a new wrinkle to an already trying fight week, when Stephen Fulton failed to hit the 130lbs mark for his planned challenge for O’Shaquie Foster’s WBC junior lightweight title. Philadelphia’s Fulton, 23-1 (8 KOs) was 132lbs on his final attempt, two full pounds above the junior lightweight limit, while Foster – who hails from the greater Houston area – came in ready and professional right at the 130lbs divisional limit.
The fight will still move forward, though. As previously reported by BoxingScene, Foster, 23-2 (12 KOs), will retain his belt regardless of the outcome of their scheduled 12-round contest. Instead - and in an absurd decision, even by awful sanctioning body standards - their match will now come with the WBC interim 135lbs title at stake. This last minute decision was made, despite the fact that the WBC previously granted the same approval - during its own annual convention, no less - to an already scheduled Ricardo Nunez-Jadier Herrera clash.
All other boxers made their originally contracted weight for Saturday’s PBC on Prime Video pay-per-view event, which will air live from Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas.
Headlining the show, Mexico City’s Isaac Cruz risks his secondary version of the WBC 140lbs title against Lamont Roach Jnr, 25-1-2 (10 KOs).
Cruz officially checked in at 138.6lbs, while Roach weighed 139.6lbs.
Both boxers maintained a high level of intensity during their at-length face-off. TGB Promotions’ Tom Brown stood in between the two and assisted in separating the headliners to prevent anything other than hard glares taking place.
“I couldn’t be clearer of what I plan to do on Saturday,” Cruz said in comments translated by Martin Bater, PBC’s contracted Spanish interpreter. “What I’m going to do is the same thing that I did when I came here [to San Antonio] five years ago when I fought Diego Magdaleno. He knows this.”
Roach didn’t seem particularly bothered with that bit of history or with Friday’s development.
“This is our job right here, we’re laying it all on the line,” Roach told legendary hip-hop artist Cam’Ron, whose “It Is What It Is” podcast hosted Friday’s weigh-in. “I know I’m coming with everything I got, so he better come with everything he got.”
Roach has a chance to win a title (of sorts) at a second weight, though the opportunity – regardless of the outcome – will mean the end of his current reign. The 30-year-old from the greater Washington D.C. area holds the WBA 130lbs title but will be relieved of his strap once the bell sounds to begin the scheduled 12-round bout.
In March, Roach moved up to lightweight and held undefeated WBA 135lbs titlist Gervonta Davis to a 12-round, majority draw that many felt he deserved to win. He advanced one more division to face Cruz after plans fell through for a rematch with Davis.
Cruz previously held the WBA 140lbs title. He claimed the WBC’s interim title at the weight in a ten-round decision win over Omar Salcido on July 19 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Erislandy Lara, 31-3-3 (19 KOs) came in at 159.6lbs for his WBA middleweight title defense against late-inserted challenger Johan Gonzalez, 36-4 (34KOs), who was 158.6lbs for his first attempt at a major title.
Gonzalez replaces IBF and WBO titlist Janibek Alimkhanuly, 17-0 (12 KOs), who produced an adverse finding for elevated levels of the banned substance meldonium.
Opening the four-fight PPV telecast, Jesus Ramos Jnr and Shane Mosley Jnr will meet for a secondary version of the WBC 160lbs title.
Arizona’s Ramos, 23-1 (19 KOs), weighed a career heaviest 159.8lbs, though still just under the middleweight limit. Mosley – the son of Hall-of-Fame former three-division champion Shane Mosley Snr – weighed 159.6lbs for his return to the ring following a 17-month absence.
PBC on Prime Video PPV (Saturday, 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT, $74.99)
Isaac Cruz (138.6lbs) vs. Lamont Roach Jnr (139.6lbs)
12 rounds, for Cruz’s WBC interim 140lbs title
O’Shaquie Foster (130lbs) vs. Stephen Fulton (132lbs*)
12 rounds, now for vacant WBC interim 135lbs title after Fulton failed to make 130lbs limit.
Erislandy Lara (159.6lbs) vs. Johan Gonzalez (158.6lbs)
12 rounds, for Lara’s WBA middleweight title
Jesus Ramos Jnr (159.8lbs) vs. Shane Mosley Jnr (159.6lbs)
12 rounds, for vacant WBA interim middleweight title
PBC on Prime Video preliminary undercard (5:30 p.m. ET/2:30 p.m. PT)
Frank Martin (139.4) vs. Rances Barthelemy (139.8lbs)
10 rounds, junior welterweight
Isaac Lucero (153.8lbs) vs. Roberto Valenzuela Jnr (154lbs)
10 rounds, junior middleweight
Luis Nunez (125.6lbs) vs. Hector Sosa (125.6lbs)
