PREPARING FOR DAY OF WEIGH-IN

Johannesburg, South Africa – The day before the weigh-in is the time when the handlers of a boxer fighting for an important event gather everything needed so that fighter will be able to regain the weight he lost.

This is because the boxer who fights in the 115-lb. weight limit does not ordinarily weigh that much only.

Edrin “The Sting” Dapudong, for example, walks around prior to a fight at about 130-lbs. and the excess weight is shed off during the training program which usually stretches for about 45 to 60 days.

A few days before the fight, however, he would still be about 5 pounds over the weight limit and he has to go down to 115 lbs. during the official weigh in which is 24 hours before the fight.

What boxers usually do is they limit their food intake, sometimes even fasting for two full days, just to go down to the weigh limit.

This morning, Edrin was still one pound over the weight limit but this is not a problem. He will easily make the weight tomorrow.

After the weigh-in, however, the boxer will have to slowly take in food to be able to recover the weight he lost.

On fight night, Dapudong is expected to grow to about 120 lbs., which is the most that he can gain in weight.

So earlier today, Jeff de Guzman and I went to the nearest grocery to purchase what Edrin would need after the weigh in tomorrow.

These included Powerade, Hydralite, fruits like banana and apples, pasta, and sweets. Also bought yesterday were rubber gloves that Jeff would use in the corner of Dapudong during the fight.

And then in the evening of the day after the weigh-in, the boxer will be given a heavy meal, usually steak and rice, to make sure that on fight night, he would have regained his power and stamina.

A mistake in what is given to the boxer after the weigh-in could cost the fighter an important bout.

(Photo caption: Here I pose in front of a pharmacy where we bought some of the things needed by Edrin Dapudong after the weigh in and during the fight.)

Source: Manny Piñol