Gervonta “Tank” Davis and Leo Santa Cruz both made weight today for tomorrow night’s Showtime pay-per-view main event, with many probably breathing a small sigh of relief that the event is on and ready to go with no scale controversy.
Davis (23-0, 22 KO) had many questioning whether or not he’d make the 130-pound weight limit, as he’s missed that limit in the past and had trouble making 135 for his last fight in late 2019.
But while the 25-year-old Davis came directly to the scale with a big TGB Promotions towel/curtain so that he could strip nude, not even trying to make weight with his boxers on, he did make the weight on first try. Davis weighed in at 129¾, and the fight is on.
Santa Cruz (37-1-1, 19 KO) came in at 129½. Nobody had any concerns about him making weight, as he’s really fighting past optimal weight in the first place.
The bout will have titles in the 130- and 135-pound divisions on the line, as Davis defends the WBA’s secondary “world” (“regular”) lightweight title, and Santa Cruz is defending the WBA’s “super world” junior lightweight title.
How to Watch Davis vs Santa Cruz
Date: Saturday, Oct. 31 | Start Time: 9:00 pm ET
Location: Alamodome, San Antonio, TX
TV: Showtime PPV | Stream: Showtime.com
Live Online Coverage: BadLeftHook.com
The undercard went pretty much without incident, though one fighter may have to lose a bit of weight in the next couple hours.
Mario Barrios (25-0, 16 KO) will defend the WBA’s secondary “world” (“regular”) junior welterweight title against Ryan Karl (18-2, 12 KO) in a 12-round bout, with hometown attraction Barrios a heavy favorite. Barrios came in at 139½, with Karl right at the 140-pound limit.
Former 140-pound titlist Regis Prograis (24-1, 21 KO) is the man who may need to lose a bit of poundage in the next two hours, but it shouldn’t be a problem. Prograis came in at 141½ for his 10-round fight with Juan Heraldez (16-0-1, 10 KO). Usually in non-title fights like this you get a pound of leeway from the normal division limit, which would still put Prograis a half-pound over. Heraldez is fine, weighing in at 139½.
There will also be an IBF lightweight eliminator for that sanctioning body’s No. 2 ranking between Isaac Cruz (19-1-1, 14 KO) and Diego Magdaleno (32-3, 13 KO). Both fights were good, with Cruz light at 132 pounds and Magdaleno in at 134¾, both under the 135-pound limit.