Another fight card, another change in the lineup. Only this one wasn’t directly related to COVID-19.
The featured fight between Miguel Marriaga and Mark John Yap scheduled for Thursday night inside the bubble at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas was canceled when Yap weighed in Wednesday 8.7 pounds over the contracted weight.
Marriaga and Yap agreed to fight at 128. Yap weighed 136.7. Fight off, as per orders from the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
The new main event on ESPN will feature Felix Verdejo and Will Madera in a 10-round lightweight matchup. They both made the agreed-upon 136-pound limit, although it took Madera two tries.
Yap (30-15, 15 KOs), a journeyman from the Philippines, didn’t make any friends as a result of his lack of professionalism. In particular, Marriaga (29-3, 25 KOs) isn’t pleased. He was also scheduled to challenge then-featherweight champ in March but that bout was canceled because of the coronavirus.
“I just can’t catch a break,” Marriaga told BoxingScene.com. “It’s a shame. I was ready to fight.”
The main event for this past Tuesday’s show also fell out. Jamel Herring, set to defend his junior lightweight title against Jonathan Oquendo, tested positive a second time for COVID-19 and his fight was called off.
It was replaced by women’s matchup between Mikaela Mayer and Helen Joseph. Mayer took advantage of the platform, winning a near-shutout decision.
Could Verdejo (26-1, 16 KOs) follow suit?
The 27-year-old Puerto Rican, once a hot prospect, is ranked by three of the four major sanctioning bodies. A victory on national TV Thursday would keep him in position to earn a long-awaited title shot.
Madera (15-0-3, 8 KOs), from Albany, N.Y., is taking a significant step up in opposition.
“Having passed the initial test of the scale, it is time to demonstrate tomorrow in the ring the result of all my dedication, effort, and perseverance,” Verdejo said.
“It will be different to fight in ‘The Bubble’ at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas without my fans, but I have no doubt that I will carry in my heart, my family, my people of Puerto Rico, and all who have supported me throughout my career.”
The fighters weighed in as follows: Verdejo (135.9) vs. Madera (135.8), 10 rounds; Jared Anderson (241.8) vs. Hector Perez (220.7), four rounds; Martino Jules (127) vs. Aleem Jumakhonov (125.1), eight rounds; and Kenny Davis Jr. (134.5) vs. Eduardo Sanchez (134.6), four rounds.