Jeff Horn has managed to make the weight on his second attempt for his mandatory WBO welterweight championship defence against Terence Crawford.
Horn clocked in at exactly 147 pounds (66.67kg) – right on the limit – at the weigh-in on Saturday morning (AEST) at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, where the bout will take place.
Earlier, Horn clocked in at 148 pounds (67.13kg) at the weigh-in. He then stripped naked and was at 147.5 pounds (66.9kg) – still over the 147 pound (66.67kg) welterweight limit. He was then given one hour to come under that number.
He eventually made it – much to the relief of his shocked camp – and will now take on Crawford on Sunday (AEST).
Crawford had no such weight troubles, tipping the scales at 146.6 pounds (66.45kg), ahead of what will be his first fight in this division, having won titles in two other weight classes.
On Friday, Horn appeared to be even more confident of victory after finally seeing Crawford in the flesh and shrugging off his attempts to intimidate the Australian.
Crawford asked Horn if he was ready during a near minute-long staredown following their official pre-fight media conference on Friday morning (AEST) – the first time they’ve crossed paths.
“I was like, ‘yeah I’m ready, are you ready?’ He said, ‘hell yeah I’m ready,’” Horn said.
There were no major fireworks, nor was there any trouble between trainers Glenn Rushton and Brian McIntyre, who have been at each other’s throats for several months.
Sporting a flashy blue suit, Horn cut a relaxed figure as Rushton did his best to dispel myths about his charge’s reputation in the US as a rugged fighter with only average technical skills.
Crawford and McIntyre didn’t say much but when they did, they took on a soft, menacing tone – or at least tried to.
“He might get hurt,” Crawford said of Horn, who has been installed as a rank outsider to retain his WBO welterweight title on Sunday.
“Pressure breaks pipes. A lot of people came in the ring with me with strong will and they left with their tail tucked in.”
Horn looked physically the bigger man but Crawford said the incumbent WBO champion would end up “surprised” by his strength and power.
McIntyre predicted it would be the start of a “takeover” in the welterweight division by the unbeaten Crawford, who is stepping up to the 66.67kg limit after winning titles in two lower weight classes – including all four junior welterweight belts.
“Jeff just happens to be the first victim,” he said.
None of it appeared to faze Horn and laughs broke out from his support section whenever the American pair’s words occasionally fell flat.
“I found it entertaining, to be honest. They’re trying to get in my head ... it was hilarious,” he said.
Rushton said: “There’s nothing that they said at all that caused me any discomfort whatsoever.”
“In fact I actually feel a lot more relaxed now.”