Tommy Ward’s opponent needed to jog a few laps of the Rainton Meadows Arena car park to make the weight for Friday night’s IBF European championship clash.
After Ward weighed in dead on the 8st 10lb super-bantamweight limit, Alvaro Rodriguez was one pound too heavy despite going down to his ‘birthday suit’.
But the Spaniard put his clothes and trainers on and had a run around the car park before returning to weigh 8st 10lbs.
Had he failed to make the 122lb limit, the title could only have been won by Ward but now Rodriguez has beaten the scales then this intriguing England v Spain confrontation is very much on.
It was all friendly stuff at the Houghton venue this afternoon with both boxers shaking hands and engaging in a warm embrace before heading in different directions.
Ward will start as favourite but is mindful that the 32-year-old, from Madrid, is very much at the top of his game.
“He has good record and he seems a decent fighter,” said the Neil Fannan and Dave Garside boxer.
“I’ve not seen anything of him in terms of film, but he’s supposed to be a tough, strong fighter and very game.
“I’m expecting him to be a hard opponent.
“But I’m ready to take into the ring what I’ve been doing.
“Everything has gone well, we’ve had a great preparation, training has been good, sparring has been good and my weight has gone well too.
“Let’s see what he brings to the table.
Rodriguez, who has tasted just the one defeat, is no dummy, having beaten David Sanchez to win the Spanish title in Madrid last year.
He outpointed Luis Felipe Castro in his first defence in the same Casino Grand venue and retained his belt in a draw with the undefeated Sebastian Perez. It was a close affair with one judge giving him victory by four points and the other two officials having them locked at 95-95, so the boxer known as ‘Ardi’ knows his way around tight fights.
Ward and Rodriguez come face to face on Thursday afternoon at the Rainton Meadows Arena for the weigh-in (2.30pm).
There is san undercard full of North-East boxers, Chad Ellis, Jordan Ellison, Anth Hardy, Tom Hill, Joe Laws and Mohammed Waqas and Terence Wilkinson.
For ticket info, contact Phil on 07747611020.
Words: Roy Kelly
