Louie Burke: Baku, Azerbaijan, World Series of Boxing (WSB) test event:

By Louie Burke

Weigh-ins were at 11:00 am. All went well and was the fastest, most efficient weigh in I’ve ever attended. The fighters were called in individually with there coach to a room where the medicals and weigh-ins took place. First the Dr. gave the boxers a thorough go over, then the fighter stepped on the scale for the weigh-in, That’s it, that simple! A process U.S. commissions could take a couple of notes from. The 45 minute process started with the lighter weights and ended with the heavier ones, which went as follows.

Red corner: Blue Corner:
Denis Madarov 53.6 kg (Germany) -Bantamweight- Vitaly Volkov 53.8 kg (Ukrain)
54 kg
Everton Dos Sanotos Lopez 60.8 kg (Brazil) -Lightweight- Koba Pkhakadze 60.8 kg ( Georgia)
61 kg

Yamaguchi Falcao Florentino 72.8 kg (Brazl) -Middle-Sergiy Derevyanchenko 72.5kg (Ukrain)
73 kg
Sijuola Shabazz 82.9 kg ( USA) -Lightheavy- Jean Ludovic Groguhe 84.2kg (France)
85 kg
Javier Jose Torres 92.2 kg(USA) -Heavyweight- Istavan Bernath100.6 kg(Hungry)
91+

U.S. boxers, Siju Shabazz and Los Angeles heavyweight, Javier Torres, were weighing light, but both felt strong and are ready to "get it on" tomorrow night. The fights are scheduled to begin at 7:00 pm, Azerbaijan time, which is 11 hours before Mountain Standard Time, ( New Mexico time). In other words we’re going to be fighting at 7:00 at night and you’ll be on your way to work at 8:00 am.

Everyone is in good spirits and we have been treated simple but good, and we’ve made many new friends. But the boys are ready to take care of business and get our rears back on the plane for home, sweet home.

Thank you for your support and prayers, and think about Siju and Javier when your going to work tomorrow.