Robert Guerrero and Selcuk Aydin almost came to blows at the conclusion of Friday’s official bout weigh-in in San Jose, causing a brief shoving match on stage and building that much more tension and animosity ahead of the boxers’ 12-round WBC Interim welterweight world title fight Saturday night.
As the two stood glaring at each other face to face, both refused to look away and pose straight ahead for cameras. The minute-long stare down looked to be over with when Aydin raised his right arm and placed his fist under Guerrero’s chin and gave a bit of a push with it. The Ghost batted down the advance and both entourages closed in on the situation, creating a cluster of commotion on stage.
Both fighters were promptly escorted away as the two teams, plus a few other persons who made it past the barricade that circled the stage, were left to sort it out.
It hasn’t been a friendly few months leading up to the fight. Aydin has said on a number of occasions that Guerrero’s jaw is at risk of breaking. Guerrero, in turn, has warned the Turkish-born Aydin to be prepared for a long trip back home.
About 30 minutes after the altercation Guerrero posted a message to his Twitter account.
“It’s on people!! This guy Selcuk Aydin thinks he’s going to bully NOT HAPPENING. Get your tickets now it’s going to be a great fight,” Guerrero wrote.
In response, Aydin’s Twitter feed it read, “I hope you spent more time training than running your mouth on Twitter. Tomorrow I will tear into your soul and take everything.”
Meanwhile, the two boxers made weight – Guerrero weighed in at 145 3/4 pounds and Aydin at 146 1/2 pounds.
• Longtime promoter Don King made an appearance at the weigh-in and probably didn’t help the situation, using his familiar propaganda in support of Aydin.
• The fight card:
Main event: Guerrero (29-1-1 18 KOs) vs. Aydin (23-0, 17 KOs) – 12 rounds for the vacant WBC Interim welterweight championship of the world.
Co-Main event: Shawn Porter (19-0, 14 KOs) vs. Alfonso Gomez (23-5-2, 12 KOs) – 10 rounds for the vacant NABO welterweight title.
Hugo Centeno (14-0 8 KOs) vs. Ayi Bruce (14-7 8 KOs) – eight round junior middleweight.
Manuel Avila (7-0, 2 KOs) vs. Raymond Chacon (4-3) – six rounds junior featherweight.
George Groves (14-0, 11 KOs) vs. Francisco Sierra (24-5-1 (22 KOs) – eight rounds super middleweight.
Paul Mendez (7-2-1 2 KOs) vs. Leshon Simms (5-10 3 KOs) – six rounds middleweight.
Gerald Washington (pro debut) vs. Blue DeLong (0-3) – four rounds heavyweight.
• Guerrero vs. Aydin is presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Arena-Box Promotion and sponsored by Corona, DeWalt Tools and AT&T. The Showtime Championship Boxing telecast will air live at 10 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast.) Preliminary fights will air live on Showtime Extreme beginning at 8 p.m. ET/PT.
Lee Reyes (1-1) vs. Miguel Ramirez (pro debut) four rounds middle weight.
