Boxing Weights And Quotes: Lopez vs. Santana And McGirt vs. De Leon

© Joe Esquivel

Josesito Lopez and Edgar Santana tipped the scales at 140 pounds during Thursday’s weigh-in at the Miccosukee Casino in Miami, FL. James McGirt, Jr. weighed in at 166 ½ pounds while Carlos De Leon, Jr. measured 167 pounds.

Lopez, 22-2, 1 ND (13), an aggressive prospect who is fighting his first fight at 140 pounds, will face the dangerous and hard-hitting Santana, 23-2 (15) in a 10-round junior welterweight battle Friday, April 11, 2008 on ShoBox: The New Generation live on Showtime at 11 p.m. ET/PT delayed on the west coast.

The co-feature showcases a pair of sons of former world champions. McGirt Jr., 18-0 (9), the son of former IBF junior welterweight and WBC welterweight world champion Buddy McGirt, will square off against De Leon, 19-2-2 (12), the son of former four-time WBC cruiserweight world champion Carlos “Sugar” De Leon, in a 10-round super middleweight fight. DiBella Entertainment and All Star Boxing, Inc. will present the doubleheader from the Miccosukee Casino in Miami, FL.

Josesito Lopez:

“I’ve seen his tape. He is a good fighter and impressive, but he is very beatable. He has never really left the comforts of New York. I am expecting the best of Edgar Santana. Whatever that is, we will find out on Friday night. But we are ready for whatever he brings.

“I have been fighting some tough opposition, not guys with bad averages. When it comes down to it, if things get tough I can pull through it. I just have to dictate the progress of the fight. When it is time for me to go forward, I will go forward. When it is time for me to box, I will box.

“At 140 pounds I am that much stronger. That will be the difference for me in the ring and in my career. Eventually I will move up to 140 for good, but our plans right now are to stay at 135 for a while. I took this fight at 140 pounds because this is a great opportunity for me to be on Showtime.

“It will be an exciting fight. We both have identical records, but I have confidence in myself. I am here to win.”

Edgar Santana:

“I know this is a very important fight that will take me to the next level. This is the bridge I have to cross to get where I want to be. I am a naturally bigger fighter than Lopez is. We are going to collide. He is going to come to me, and I am going to come to him.

“I fight aggressive with bad intentions. I can hit hard and will bang harder than him. I am ecstatic to be fighting on ShoBox. I was relentless in training. The stars are aligned. Leading up to this fight we could have not asked for anything better. This fight is a big gamble, but at this point, we have to take a fight like this.

“Personally, I think they are making a very big mistake coming up in weight to fight me. He is coming in with mindset of a champion, but he is not a champion. The fight will be in my hands. I don’t see it going the distance.”

James McGirt Jr:

“Every fight is a step up fight for me. This is the fight that I want. This is right where I want to be. Give me a challenge and I will get up for it. ShoBox is a whole new audience and a whole new step up for me.

“What happens tomorrow night will determine where I go from here. I am very excited about this fight. I have trained hard and am ready. I am coming along very well. I don’t have a lot of experience in the amateurs like a lot of these guys do, but I am coming along very well.

“I’m 25 years old and I am patient. But I want to fight the best. I want to get in there with the best fighters.”

Carlos De Leon, Jr:

“He [McGirt] hasn’t fought anyone like me before. I am ready. I am a proven fighter. I can fight right handed and southpaw, it doesn’t matter how he fights. I can switch it up, but I won’t need to. He lacks power and I can push him back. I don’t like to talk too much, because I can prove it all in the ring.

“I am not concerned about McGirt’s power. We will find out on Friday night. All this stuff I have been doing, I have done by myself. I only have my father’s name, the rest I have earned on my own. McGirt is coached by his father, which is fine for him, but I am on my own.

“I am ready for whatever he brings at me. My sparring and training leading into this fight have been amazing.”

© Joe Esquivel