By Jake Donovan

The final hurdle was cleared in moving forward with tonight's middleweight title unification bout between Gennady Golovkin and David Lemieux. Both fighters were with within regulations for the International Boxing Federation (IBF) same-day weight check ahead of their HBO Pay-Per-View headliner at Madison Square Garden in New York City (Saturday, 9:00 p.m. ET, $49.95 SRP).

All boxers fighting in an IBF-sanctioned fight are required to weigh in the morning of the bout, where they cannot gain more than 10 lbs. above the contracted limit.  For this fight, the middleweights were required to weigh no more than 170 lbs. 

Golovkin tipped the scales at 168.6 lbs. during this morning's weight check, while Lemieux weighed 169.2 lbs. 

Given the different rules from various sanctioning bodies and unified boxing commissions, Golovkin and Lemieux had to participate in a total of four weigh-ins leading up to the main event tonight. 

Golovkin (33-0, 30KOs) owns three belts - the World Boxing Association (WBA) super title, the International Boxing Organization (IBO) belt and the World Boxing Council (WBC) interim title. Lemieux (34-2, 31KOs) owns the IBF belt, which he acquired in a 12-round win over Hassan N'Dam N'Jikam in June.

As per the terms of the WBC, both fighters were required to check in 30 days and 7 days prior to fight night. They could not weigh more than 10% above the contracted limit at the 30-day mark (176 lbs.), and no more than 5% above at the 7-day mark (168 lbs.)  - whom recognizes Golovkin as its interim titllist (Golovkin is also the World Boxing Association (WBA) Super and International Boxing Organization (IBO) middleweight champ) - fights involving its sanctioning must undergo weight checks ahead of fight night. Fighters cannot weigh more than 10% above the contracted limit 30 days out and 5% above said limit seven days out.

Golovkin has been well within specs at each checkpoint. The unbeaten knockout artist from Kazakhstan weighed 165 lbs. at the 30-day mark, 165.5 lbs. one week ago and was 159.4 lbs. at the official pre-fight weigh-in Friday. 

Lemieux, on the other hand, has barely made weight every step of the way. The camera-friendly Montreal native was 175.8 lbs. 30 days ago (0.2 lbs. within the limit), 167.6 lbs. last week (0.4 lbs. within limit) and had to strip down to his birthday suit in weighing 159.8 lbs. at the scales Friday. 

The unification bout represents the first Pay-Per-View headliner for both fighters. Golovkin has emerged as a fast-rising star and the face of HBO boxing, with his all-action fights consistently providing strong ratings results.

Lemieux fights for the second time in an HBO production, as well as his second trip to the United States. His stateside debut also took place in New York, scoring a 10th round knockout of Gabriel Rosado last December at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

Jake Donovan is the managing editor of krikya360.com.
Twitter: @JakeNDaBox
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