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WBC Silver welterweight champion Selcuk Aydin (22-0) and challenger Ionut “Jo Jo Dan” Ion (29-1) both made exactly the welterweight limit of 147 lbs (66.6 kg) at today’s weigh-in in Trabzon.
Dan brought a lot of Romanian fans to Turkey – including IBF super middleweight champion Lucian Bute – who enthusiastically cheared for their compatriot. The enthusiastic fans of Aydin answered with loud cheers and singing in favour of the local hero. The atmosphere was fired up but filled with mutual respect at the same. “We have done a lot of shows but I think this was the best weigh-in I have attended”, said promoter Ahmet Oner.
“To see how loud about 200 people in a shopping mall can be gives you an impression of what 5,000 people at the venue will do tomorrow. I’m looking forward to a great show.” The show isn’t sold out yet but Oner is convinced that the Hayri Gür Spor Salonu will be packed tomorrow. “Lots of Turks buy their tickets on fightnight. We know that from our previous events here. The atmosphere will be electrifying.” In the second title bout of the night Czech heavyweight contender and WBO European champion Ondrej Pala (29-2) will defend his title against Darnell Wilson (24-12-3). While Pala enters the ring with 245 lbs (111.3 kg), Wilson weighed in at 223 lbs (101 kg). German heavyweight hope Erkan Teper (6-0) weighed in at 248 lbs (112.5 kg). His opponent couldn’t make it to the scale because promoter Ahmet Oner had to change the bout again. After the scheduled fight between Odlanier Solis and Oleksiy Mazikin fell through, Oner had planned to send Teper into the ring against Mazikin. But the Ukranian veteran pulled out of the fight.
“He’s afraid“, said Teper. Now rugged Cisse Salif has accepted the fight on two day notice and was on his way to Trabzon when the official weigh-in was held. “Of course, this is a very tough situation for Cisse”, says Oner. “But he is a professional so he is always in shape. Things like that happen and I’m glad that we managed to get a good opponent for Erkan on such short terms. I’m expecting a good and close fight.”
