PBC on FS1 Weights: Jackson 168, Uzcategui 167.75

By Jake Donovan

Julius Jackson and Jose Uzcategui both made weight for their upcoming super middleweight title eliminator, which headlines Tuesday evening at Cowboys Dance Hall in San Antonio, Texas. 

Jackson tipped the scales at 168 lbs., while Uzcategui (23-1, 19KOs) was slightly lighter at 167.75 lbs. 

The bout tops the latest installment of Premier Boxing Champions (PBC): Toe-To-Toe series on Fox Sports 1. 

Jackson (19-0, 15KOs) fights for the first time in 2015, though not by choice. The second-generation boxer - trained by his father Juian Jackson, the former middleweight champ and one of the hardest punchers in boxing history - saw several opportunities either fall through or get placed on hold while being manuevered into position to contend for a title.

The last ring appearance for the unbeaten boxer-puncher from Virgin Islands came last December, knocking out Jonathan Nelson inside of nine rounds. Following in his father's footsteps, Jackson has stopped his last nine opponents. 

Both he and his brother John Jackson - a current super welterweight contender - represented U.S. Virgin Islands in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. 

Uzcategui (23-1, 19KOs) finds himself in the unique position of being one fight away from the title for the second time in just over a year. The Venezuela-born, Mexico-based slugger dropped a 10-round decision to Matt Korobov in their middleweight title eliminator last June for the lone loss of his career. 

The setback was followed by rest and relaxation before returning to the ring in February, scoring a rust-shaking win in his adopted homeland of Mexico. Nothing else was on the table before accepting the opportunity to face Jackson in place of Rogelio Medina.

Tuesday's winner will be named the mandatory challenger to James 'Chunky' DeGale, who won the title in May and will next face former champ Lucian Bute on November 28 in Canada. 

In the evening's co-feature, former champs Miguel Vasquez and Argenis Mendez square off in a scheduled 10-round lightweight bout.

Both fighters weighed 135.75 lbs., each fighting for the second time since watching their respective title reigns come to an end in 2014.

Vasquez 35-4 (13 KOs) served as a lightweight champ for more than four years. His style has been described by optimists as effective if not crowd-pleasing, while most others found him to be a downright stinker. 

Still, six successful defenses (and eight overall wins) came of the stretch before suffering a highly questionable 12-round decision loss to Mickey Bey last September. He has since rebounded with a 10-round win over Jerry Belmontes this past March.

Mendez 22-3-1 (12 KOs) claimed a super featherweight title through the best possible means - emphatically avenging the first loss of his career. Nearly 18 months following a points loss to Juan Carlos Salgado, Mendez gained sweet revenge in a one-sided 4th round knockout to claim the super featherweight title in March '13.

His reign lasted 16 months despite failing to post a single win in three subsequent fights. The slick boxer from Dominican Republic was forced to settle for a disputed 12-round draw with Arash Usmanee in Aug. '13, a fight most felt should have went to the champion. 

It was a verdict he'd gladly take in favor of his two-fight set with Rances Barthelemy in 2014. Mendez was initially ruled a 2nd round knockout victim in their first clash last January, only for a review of the fight determining that the final blow came after the bell, thus rendering the fight a no-contest. 

Barthelemy went on to win a clear-cut decision in their rematch last July. Mendez took off the rest of the year, returning this past February at a new weight in scoring a 6th round knockout of Daniel Evangelista, Jr. 

Julius Jackson, 168 lbs. vs. Jose Uzcategui, 167.75 lbs. - 12 rds, super middleweight

Miguel Vasquez, 135.75 lbs. vs. Argenis Mendez, 135.75 lbs. - 10 rds, lightweight

Ryan Karl, 142 lbs. vs. Alfonso Olvera, 141 lbs. - 6 rds, super lightweight

Justin DeLoach, 154 lbs. vs. Todd Manuel, 155 lbs. - 6 rds, super welterweight

Stephen Lovett, 177.5 lbs. vs. Kevin Engel, 178.75 lbs. - 8 rds, light heavyweight

James Leija, Jr., 142.5 lbs.. vs Jonathan Heard, 146 lbs. - 4 rds, welterweight

Joseph Rodriguez, 135 lbs. vs Jesus Sandoval, 131.8 lbs. - 6 rds, lightweight

Enrique Neira Jr., 164.5 lbs. vs. Edward Tigs, 163.25 lbs. - 4 rds, super middleweight

Cresencio Ramos, 130 lbs. vs Cesar Martinez, 130 lbs. - 4 rds, super featherweight

Ramon Cardenas, 121 lbs. vs Jamie Hernandez, 120 lbs. - 4 rds, super bantamweight

Daniel Baiz, 153 lbs. vs Alberto Espinoza, 159 lbs. - 4 rds, super welterweight

Ricky Edwards, 140 lbs. vs Evincii Dixon, 140 lbs. - 6 rds, super lightweight