Liam Wilson’s team has sensationally demanded an investigation into the weigh-in scandal surrounding Mexican superstar Emanuel Navarrete – and have threatened to boycott the fight – following allegations the scales were suspiciously touched twice prior to either man stepping on.
Only 24 hours out from his hyped WBO super featherweight world title showdown, Fox Sports Australia can reveal Wilson’s team is now demanding a fight day meeting with the Arizona State Boxing & MMA Commission.
Australian promoter Matt Rose has also reached out to senior WBO executives to discuss what has become a sudden, and sensational, twist to the Australian’s underdog story.
Of specific concern to Team Wilson is footage from the weigh-in which, they insist, shows a Commission employee twice touching the scales before the Queenslander, and then Navarrete step on.
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‘I’m sure the scales were tampered with’ | 02:20
It comes after the 26-year-old Caboolture product weighed in a staggering four pounds – or almost two kilos – below the super featherweight limit of 130lb or 59kg.
Given Navarrete was almost exactly on weight, the Australians believe the 28-year-old was actually heavy and had the scales “tampered with”.
So concerned is Wilson’s manager Steve Scanlan, he is set to demand Navarrete weigh in for a second time on fight day at around 4pm.
“And if he doesn’t, maybe we don’t fight,” Scanlan said.
“Because we’re demanding answers.
“After reviewing footage from the weigh-ins, we want to know why that guy touched the scales at least twice.
“Who is he? What is his role?
“I want to know why he touched the scales twice when it doesn’t appear to have happened (that often on any of the other weigh-ins) before it.”
Wilson added his team weren’t the only ones shocked by the footage, especially after it was aired in an athlete’s meeting on Friday afternoon.
Among those in attendance were commentators Timothy Bradley and Andre Ward, with Scanlan revealing both former world champions were left “shaking their heads” with what they saw.
“Everyone present in that meeting said ‘this is f***d’,” he continued.
“Timothy Bradley even said the same thing had happened to him previously, too.
“It was in England, and on that occasion they had said Bradley weighed in heavy by two pounds.
“But his trainer, he jumped in straight away and stopped everything.
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‘Wilson will have his work cut out’ | 02:03
“They then put a 15 pound weight on the scales and sure enough, it was out.
“So when our weigh-in was brought up on the screen, and you can see that guy touch the scales, then touch it again, everyone was shaking their heads.”
Asked what Navarrete’s team said, Scanlan shrugged: “Nothing.
“They don’t seem to know what is going on.”
After officially weighing in at 126.3lb, Wilson conceded he was shocked by the numbers given, around 20 minutes before official proceedings, he actually jumped on the same scale and was almost bang on 59kg.
At the urging of his team, he also jumped back onto the scales before leaving the venue, and in the midst of the chaos.
Shirtless but still in his tracksuit pants, his weight was already back up to 132.3lb – or 60kg
“And I was with Liam that whole morning of the weigh-ins. Right next to him when he weighed in (early),” Scanlan continued.
“He stood on the scales and weighed 58.7kg.
“So to then say he lost almost two kilos, or four pounds? And all he did was sit around waiting in a chair?
“That’s absurd.
“And I don’t know how they thought they would … well, they are getting away with it.
“How does that happen in 2023?
Wilson and Navarrete weigh in | 03:18
“It’s like people think we’ll all just turn a blind eye and eventually it goes away.
“But I’m 100 per cent demanding a Commission meeting.
“I’m also going to push to get a weight from Navarrete at 4pm on fight day.
“Because if he was 62kg this morning – and we really don’t know what the number was – he could then weigh in at 68kg.
“But if Liam is there weighing 63kg because he has done things professionally?
“We won’t fight.
“We need to make sure everything is above board.”
So far out was Wilson when he hit the scales, he effectively came in at the featherweight limit of 126lb.
“So maybe we fight for two titles,” Scanlan laughed, alluding to the fact Navarrete is also the reigning WBO featherweight champion.
“Maybe we should be fighting for both? That way we can take his featherweight title as well.”
