While John Molina Jr. weighed in exactly at 140 pounds for his Premier Boxing Champions fight against Adrien Broner, his opponent came in one pound over the weight for their bout in Las Vegas on Saturday night.
Adrien Broner and John Molina Jr. trade words during Friday's weigh-in in Las Vegas.
Broner’s appearance at 141 pounds Friday caused a few anxious moments at the weigh-in at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, but Bob Bennett, executive secretary for the Nevada State Athletic Commission, said the state’s rules allow for a “plus one pound” since the fighters are not competing for a world title.
“Broner was given plus one pound,” Bennett said. “That’s within our Nevada administrative code, just like the other seven fights on the [nine-bout] card that are not title fights.”
Broner took heat from fans attending the weigh-in for not hitting the 140-pound target, but his trainer, Mike Stafford, dismissed the issue, and said his fighter would be in top form Saturday.
“It’s no big deal,” Stafford said. “If it was a title fight, he would have been on the treadmill getting the pound off.”
There was an intense exchange between Molina and Broner during their onstage faceoff, which lasted nearly a minute.
“There were a few, choice words, but we’re going to keep it PG-13,” Molina said. “But that’s to be expected. I can guarantee you that it’s going to be a fight.”
Keith Thurman and Robert Guerrero jaw at each other during Friday's weigh-in.
Keith Thurman and Robert Guerrero also exchanged words onstage after both fighters came in right at the targeted weight for their 147-pound title fight.
“[Guerrero] said, ‘I’m not going to lay down for anybody.’ I said, ‘You won’t have to lay down; I’m going to put you down,’” Thurman said. “I love his confidence, but at the end of the day, it’s the skills that pay the bills.
“I said, ‘Let’s go out there and put on a show.’ He said, ‘I see that you’re scared; I can see it in your eyes.’ But I said, ‘Why are you talking about yourself?’ We’re going to have a great fight Saturday night.”
Guerrero was equally emphatic concerning his belief in himself.
“I’m just going to come out and do what I always do, and that’s come out there and fight. The fans know that I come to fight. I ain’t going to run,” Guerrero said. “My last name is Guerrero, and that means ‘warrior.’ I don’t need anybody to fight for me. I come to fight for myself, like always. He’s going to find out.”
Abner Mares and Arturo Santos Reyes pose onstage during Friday's weigh-in.
Three-division world champion Abner Mares weighed in at 127 pounds, compared to 126 for opponent Arturo Santos Reyes. The agreed-upon weight for the fight was 128 pounds, according to Luis Garcia, strength and conditioning coach for Mares.
"I weighed the same for my last fight. It's no difference," Mares said. "It helps a little bit to not have to make 126. It's just one pound, but that can make a difference in your power when you get a little more weight. I'm going to show you that tomorrow night.”
