IN WHAT the Bangkok Post described as “a farcical” weigh-in, where both International Boxing Federation flyweight champion Amnat Ruenroeng of Thailand and Filipino challenger and former light flyweight champion John Reil Casimero were overweight, the IBF reportedly made a turnaround on the request of the Chinese promoter and allowed the title fight to continue.
The promoter claimed that the fighters were again weighed in their hotel and made the 112-pound limit, while ordering another weigh-in hours before the title fight in Beijing.
Bangkok Post reporter Kittipong Thongsombat reported that Ruenrong even apologized to his Thai fans, saying this may be his last fight.
The 36-year-old Thai initially lost his title on the scales after he weighed in at 117.34 pounds at the first attempt and 116.1 pounds on his second, while Casimero also failed to make the limit, weighing in at 113.32 on his first trip to the scales and 113.10 on his second try.
Casimero was some four pounds over the 112-pound limit when he left Manila for Beijing early Sunday after a final workout on Saturday.
“The weather was cold today and made it difficult for me to make the weight,” Ruenrong said, the same excuse Casimero used during his final two days in Manila when the rains prevented him from doing his roadwork.
The Thai, however, promised: “I will do my best later today.”
Boxing Scene quoted OPBF spokesperson Jeanette Salazar who explained that the weight issue arose after “ a mock weigh-in with the back drop of the Great Wall.. Unfortunately, that wasn’t properly communicated. It’s not the most level ground or truly ideal for a real weigh-in. They were weighed at 4:30 p.m. (local time) back at the hotel and both made weight.”
Regrettably, the media was not informed so they were not present at the hotel weigh-in to verify what took place.
The rematch was sanctioned by the IBF after a foul-infested bout in Thailand some eleven months ago when referee Larry Doggett was bitterly criticized for his
lousy performance in which he f ailed to sanction Amnat for several infractions including two takedowns while calling a clear push by Amnat as a knockdown and
failing to call a timely left hook that dropped Amnat, a knockdown.