IT came as a shock when WBA super-flyweight world champion Luis Concepcion failed to make weight for his title defence against Kal Yafai on Saturday at the Manchester Arena. Concepcion had seemed in fine fettle this week, looking in good shape at the public workout on Tuesday, to such an extent that he clambered up the corner post and did a high, expertly executed backflip.
Yet on Friday he stripped naked and still weighed two and a half pounds over the limit, a surprising 8st 5lbs 7oz. He made a second attempt a couple of hours later, but still was 8st 5lbs 4oz. Yafai at 8st 2lbs 7oz made weight and was in outstanding condition. He can still win the WBA crown.
โNothing changes for Kal. Heโs got to beat Concepcion to become world champ,โ said promoter Eddie Hearn, who now believes the task just got harder for Kal Yafai.
โI think itโs a disadvantage. He [Concepcion] is two and a bit pound over. Itโs not like half a pound. Thatโs quite a lot of weight and heโs going to rehydrate. I just think itโs going to be harder to get him after there. Heโs going to be heavier. I think for Kal itโs about understanding the procedure now,โ Hearn said. โHeโll lose his belt on the scales. It was surprising because on all the check weights he was fine. I donโt know what happened between now and the check weights.
โMaybe he just had enough and thought, ‘Iโm going to come in and try and beat Kal Yafai a few pound over.’โ
Speaking to Boxing News before the weigh in, Yafai was utterly focused. โEverythingโs done. I feel good. Iโm happy with how everythingโs went. Itโs been a hard, hard training camp. Itโs not really a camp, itโs a lifestyle but itโs been turned up to another level this fight. Saturday I just believe itโs my time,โ he said. โIโm not in this game to fight these knock over guys. Iโve trained all my life. 18 years Iโve put into this sport. A lot of sacrifices. Iโm like a hermit. The only time I really come out is when I go to the gym and back or running. I like to live a boring life because I know I can have all the fun afterwards. After Iโve achieved everything I need to achieve. This is it for me. Time to become world champion on Saturday.
โIt may be a bit tricky early on, heโs going to be in and out, trying to spring in and out. Heโs going to be very explosive. But itโs my job obviously to put him in his place.โ