In what seems like an unusual twist both WBA No. 2 light flyweight Randy “Razor” Petalcorin and WBA 6 ranked Panamanian Walter Tello came in well below the 108 pound limit at the official weigh-in in Shanghai, China on Monday afternoon.
Southpaw Petalcorin weighed 105.6 pounds and the more experienced Tello 105.3 pounds.
Well known Australian promoter Peter Maniatis who co-manages Petalcorin with Jim Manangquil of General Santos City, the hometown of Petalcorin, said “Randy is close to three pounds under the limit and he was eating all the food he likes” supporting the contention of American trainer Rick Stahaley who told the Manila Standard/Viva Sports some time ago when he was training Petalcorin for a Pan Asian Boxing Association title fight that the Filipino could easily go down to 105 and because he hits so hard would surely become a minimumweight world champion.
Maniatis said “we have worked hard for this moment and Randy has the skills and power to blow Tello out of the water if he handles the big stage” adding that Petalcorin hasn’t faced anyone like Tello in his 23 fight career so far.”
The Aussie co-manager said he would like to thank Manangquil and the GenSan team including trainer Renie Gawaba “for doing a terrific job in getting Petalcorin ready for the fight on Tuesday night” which is expected to be attended by Petalcorin’s townmate and idol Manny Pacquiao and WBO light welterweight champion Chris Algieri who will be in Shanghai for the second stop on their media tour to hype their November 22 showdown at the Cotai Arena in Macau.