Llover stripped to make weight.
Filipino contender Kenneth Llover and his team endured an uneasy moment during today's official weigh-in in Tokoname, Japan, after Llover initially failed to make weight on his first attempt. On his second try, however, Llover successfully registered 117.7 lbs—just under the 118-pound bantamweight limit.
In contrast, his American opponent, Michael Angeletti, easily made weight on his first attempt, tipping the scales at 117.5 lbs.
Llover (17-0, 12 KOs), a highly touted and undefeated rising star from the Philippines, is set to face fellow unbeaten contender Angeletti (14-0, 8 KOs) in a high-stakes IBF championship eliminator at the Aichi Sky Expo tomorrow, Saturday.
The winner of this bout will become the mandatory challenger to the reigning IBF bantamweight champion, Jose Salas Reyes of Mexico.
Two other Filipino boxers appearing on the undercard also successfully made weight for their respective bouts.
Luis Nery (L) and John Riel Casimero (R) pose during Friday's weighin.
The colorful and often controversial three-division world champion John Riel Casimero weighed in at 123.4 lbs. However, his renowned Mexican opponent, Luis Nery, missed the mark, tipping the scales three pounds overweight at 127.2 lbs.
Despite the discrepancy, reports from Japan indicate that the fight will proceed as a 10-round catchweight bout at 124 lbs. Casimero (35-5-1, 24 KOs) is hunting for an impressive victory over Nery to force his way into the conversation for a mega-fight with unified pound-for-pound king Naoya Inoue.
Additionally, former world title challenger Vince Paras (25-4-1, 19 KOs) successfully made weight for his scheduled 8-round super flyweight bout against the rising Japanese prospect Aoi Yokoyama (4-0, 1 KO).
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