Bryan Chevalier was once again able to breathe a sigh of relief.
It was another successful trip to the scale for the 5’11” prospect from Bayamon, Puerto Rico, who weighed 129.6 pounds for his ten-round junior lightweight bout with late replacement Cesar Juarez. The two collide atop a ProBox show this Wednesday at Coliseo Roberto Clemente in San Juan.
Mexico City’s Juarez came in right at the 130-pound limit for the main event, which takes place as part of the annual WBO convention.
The fight is the second at or above junior lightweight for Chevalier (17-1-1, 13KOs), who moved up from featherweight earlier this year. His last fight at 126 came in a ten-round victory over James Wilkins last July 9 in Los Angeles, after which he realized it was time for a change.
“I really felt it going into that fight,” Chevalier told krikya360.com. “I am disciplined and always put in the work to make weight. But that training camp was really difficult losing those last few pounds. I feel so much healthier fighting at this higher weight. I want to stay here long enough to at least win a world title.”
Chevalier—who has won nine straight—was originally due to face fellow Boricua prospect Angel Aponte. Those plans were scrapped last week when—as previously reported by krikya360.com, Aponte was charged in absentia with domestic abuse and endangering the welfare of a minor from an incident stemming from earlier this summer. Juarez (27-12, 20KOs) accepted the fight on a little more than one week’s notice.
The 31-year-old former title challenger has lost his last two starts but offered a credible account of himself in an eight-round, unanimous decision defeat to unbeaten Otar Eranosyan on September 9 in Plant City, Florida. Juarez remains best known for his Fight of the Year-level slugfest with Nonito Donaire in their December 2015 vacant WBO 122-pound title fight at the very venue hosting Wednesday’s event.
Below are the weights for the undercard, with the first fight set to begin at 6:30 p.m. Eastern and local time.
Nestor Bravo (20-0, 14KOs), Arecibo, P.R., 139.6 pounds vs. Adrian Yung (28-7-3, 22KOs), Lakeside, California, 139 pounds—10 rounds, junior welterweight
Brian Ceballo (13-0, 7KOs), Brooklyn, New York, 150 pounds vs. Nicklaus Flaz (9-2, 7KOs), Vega Alta, P.R., 149 pounds—8 rounds, welterweight
Addiel Perez (3-0, 2KOs), Fajardo, P.R., 134 pounds vs. Waldemar Carril, Moca, P.R., 134 pounds—4 rounds, lightweight
William Ortiz (pro debut), Toa Alta, P.R., 142 pounds vs. Brian N. Rodriguez, Mayaguez, P.R., 140 pounds—4 rounds, junior welterweight
Jose Aguirre (16-0, 10KOs), Arecibo, P.R., 132 pounds vs. Ezequil Tevez (13-8, 4KOs), Buenos Aires, Argentina, 130 pounds—6 rounds, junior lightweight
Kenny Romero (pro debut), Rio Grande, P.R., 111 pounds vs. Julian Garcia, Fajardo, P.R., 111 pounds—4 rounds, flyweight
Bryan Perez (pro debut), Fajardo, P.R., 147 pounds vs. Carlos Irizarry, San Juan, P.R., 147 pounds—4 rounds, welterweight
Yair Benjamin Gallardo (pro debut), Mexico, 174 pounds vs. Luis Ramos (0-7), Carolina, P.R., 171 pounds—4 rounds, light heavyweight
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for krikya360.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox