FightNight 2008 Weights

Hurry and wait to the organized chaos otherwise known as a Texas Department of Licensing & Regulation (TDLR) professional boxing weigh-in.  At one table, Head Boxing Administrator Dick Cole, and Boxing Officials Arturo Martinez, Richard Cole, and Mel LeMane are ensuring all the fighters and their cornermen involved with the show are legally licensed with the State of Texas.

At another table the promoter (Steve Crosson), the matchmaker, and their assistants are making sure the pot is right for all of the fighters.  In other words if a financial obligation was not met at the previous table, it is the responsibility of those at this table to make sure it is.  Even if it means withholding a portion of the purse.

At yet another table a physician is performing routine exams to ensure fighters are fit to perform.  For the most part they usually are; these are professional athletes.  Most of them understand what is at stake and what will happen if they do not prepare themselves the way a professional athlete should.  I repeat, most of them.

The weigh-in begins the customary TDLR half hour to an hour late and without any fanfare or drama:

Cedric Agnew (Chicago, IL) 175 lbs vs. Rayco Saunders (Pittsburgh, PA) 175 lbs.

Derrick Moon (Ft Worth) 136 lbs vs. Adrianne Navarrette (Durango, MX) 137 lbs.

Jesus Rodarte (Houston, TX) 134 ½ lbs vs. Rocky Rubaldino (Parr, TX) 134 ½ lbs.

Gilbert Vera (Austin, TX) 148 lbs. vs. Carlos Delacruz (Ciudad, MX) 158 lbs.

Ten pound difference?  What?  Let’s go to the official TDLR rule book, Combative Sports Rules, Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 61, Section 61.105, Weight Categories and Weigh-In [for boxing and kickboxing].  The weight allowance for the 148lb to 160lb category is 10 lbs.  In other words the difference in pounds between the weight of the lighter of the two and the heavier of the two cannot be more than 10 lbs.  In this case it wasn’t.  Dickie Cole, the ringmaster of the evening proclaims, “This is legal.”  This fight will go on.

Then the drama and the fireworks began:

Donald Mouton (Houston, TX) 174 lbs vs. Larry Pryor (Washington D.C.) 190 ¼ lbs!

More than a 16 lb (by a ¼ of a pound) difference.  Again, Cole and his minions go to the rule book; this time the allowable difference according to the officials is 12 lbs.  Pryor must shed four and a quarter pounds and get down to 186.  Again, according to the rule book he is allowed two hours to drop weight.  Unfortunately for Pryor he receives some bad advice and sits in a car with the heater running for the first 30 minutes and loses about a pound.  Cole strongly recommends he go back out, start running, and work up a good sweat to lose the necessary poundage.

The TDLR Officials are generous with Pryor, allowing him an extra 20 minutes.  This time he strips down, dries off as much of the excess sweat as possible and weighs…drum roll please…187 lbs!  One pound over the limit.

Say what you want about Cole’s chaotic yet organized, hurry & wait, three ring (table) circus.  He is a stickler for the rule book.  No fight!  These two will be allowed to box a three round exhibition with headgear if they wish, but that is all.  The matchmaker cries foul, the fighter pleads for more time to lose the extra weight, but to no avail.  A rule is a rule is a rule.  That is why, with Mr. Dick Cole at the helm there have been few if any serious injuries in our sport.  We, applaud Dickie for taking this unpopular stance; that is why he is so respected, he’s not afraid to make the difficult decision.  Professional boxing in the state of Texas, you gotta love it.  We do and we’re looking forward to Thursday’s FightNight 2008 action.