Premier Boxing Champions returns to primetime Saturday night with a heavyweight world championship. Reigning WBC titlist Deontay Wilder will put his belt on the line against relatively late replacement Gerald Washington and while neither man needed to hit a certain weight limit, Friday’s weigh-ins went off without a hitch.
“I've had an incredible run to get me hear,” Washington earlier in the week at the final pre-fight press conference. “I'm thankful to Deontay for picking me for this fight. He could have chosen a lot of opponents, but he picked me and I'm grateful for that. This is a dream come true. I started boxing as a kid but I didn't know what I wanted to do. I've had a long road, but now I'm here fighting for the heavyweight championship of the world. This just means so much to me.”
Wilder (37-0, 36 KOs) looked as cool as ever on the scale. “The Bronze Bomber,” who often looks like a pure wrecking machine inside the ropes, checked in at a lean 222 pounds. Wilder is looking to be successful in his fifth title defense, hoping to eventually test his mettle against the few other elite fighters at heavyweight, but he’s not looking past his challenger.
“I know Gerald is excited,” Wilder said at the same presser. “I was too. I know what it's like to be able to fight for one of the most prestigious belts in the world. But, it's my belt. I'm still enjoying it. Even though I'm heavyweight champion of the world, I'm still humble. I keep the belt in its case, until it's time for me to fight again. I'm not satisfied. There is still more to attain.”
The co-feature will see Tony Harrison collide with Jarrett Hurd for the vacant IBF junior middleweight title, a crown that was vacated recently by Jermall Charlo. Harrison came in at 153.6 pounds while Hurd weighed 153 even.
The action will go live on Fox from inside Legacy Arena in Wilder’s hometown of Birmingham, Ala., beginning at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.
PBC on Fox Weigh-in Results:
Deontay Wilder (222) vs. Gerald Washington (239)Tony Harrison (153.6) vs. Jarrett Hurd (153)
Izuabge Ugonoh (230.6) vs. Dominic Breazeale (263)