Weights from Macao: Mepranum, Abdulhamid, Deines, Fanlong Make Weight for IBF Wars

By Carlos Costa

MACAO, China — Sanman fighters Richie Mepranum and Adam Diu Cagas Abdulhamid successfully made weight for their respective IBF Pan Pacific Saturday night battles set to heat up the ongoing IBF 36th Annual Convention unfolding these days at the plush Wynn Palace Cotai here in “The Vegas of Asia,” Macao.

IBF Pan Pacific Super Bantam: Mepranum (L) Engages Sen Chen

Veteran Sarangani warrior Mepranum (33-7-1, 9 KO’s) weighed-in at 122 pounds while the taller and younger Sen Chen 陈森 (11-1, 2 KO’s) of Jining, China, made 120 lbs for their 10-rounder rumble for the IBF Pan Pacific Super Bantamweight Belt.

Abdulhamid (L) vs Timorese Terror Steven Gago IBF Pan Pacific Welterweight Battle

Meanwhile, Sanman welterweight Adam Diu Abdulhamid (14-7, 6 KO’s) of Gensan scaled-in at 147 pounds and instants later his tough undefeated Australian opponent “The Timorese Terror” Steve Gago (11-0, 4 KO’s) of Perth got 145.3 lbs ahead of their ten-chapter war for the red and golden IBF Pan Pacific Welterweight Strap.

Moreover, in an exciting IBF world title eliminator, unbeaten Light Heavyweight fighter Adam Deines (17-0-1, 8 KO’s) came-in at the limit of the division, 175 pounds, while undefeated Chinese 2012 Olympian Fanlong Meng (14-0, 9 KO’s) recorded 174 lbs. The two southpaw gladiators collide for the right to have a shot at the IBF Light Heavyweight World title.

The reigning IBF 175-pound world champion is fearsome unbeaten Russian destroyer Artur Beterbiev (14-0, 14 KO’s). IBF President Daryl Peoples will supervise the battle.

Plus, Macao fighter Hon Lek Ao (1-0, 1 KO) trained by Filipino coach and pro boxing debutant Xinlong Bai of China collide in a 4-rounder that promises total action. Both men weighed-in at the limit of the featherweight division, 126 pounds.

Tsuyoshi Yasokuchi of Japan is one of the supervisors. Ring official Ignatius Missailidis of Australia is also on duty.

Filipino Arnie Najera has been assigned as judge in two of the fights.

The author Carlos Costa is a Panama boxing reporter living in the Philippines. Carlos can be reached at carlos512@hotmail.com and whatsapp/viber/wechat: +639184538152.