Terri Harper (10-0, 5 KOs) and Natasha Jonas (9-1, 7 KOs) both made weight for their historic main event at Friday’s Matchroom Boxing Fight Camp 2 event, a 10-round contest for Harper’s WBC and IBO super-featherweight titles.
Challenger and London 2012 Olympian Jonas came in at 9st 3lbs 6oz (129lbs 6oz), slightly heavier than the undefeated Harper at 9st 2lbs 3oz (129lbs 3oz).
Many, including Matchroom’s own weigh-in hosts Chris Lloyd and former world middleweight champion Darren Barker, suspect this may be the last chance for the 36-year-old Jonas to add a world title to her resume.
"If this is that one standout performance that Natasha Jonas needs, it's going to have to be tomorrow night," Barker said.
In chief support, another Olympian returns to the ring following the coronavirus pandemic as Anthony Fowler (12-1, 9 KOs) meets Adam Harper (9-1, 0 KOs).
With no championship on the line, both light-middleweights were slightly above the 154lbs cutoff for that division. Rio 2016 participant Fowler weighed in at 11st 1lb 7oz (155lbs 7oz).
Harper, who came back from a brief retirement following a health scare and is competing for the first time in two years on Friday, weighed in the heavier of the two at 11st 2¾ lbs (156¾ lbs) after initially being registered at an even 11st 3lbs (157lbs).
Unbeaten prospect Hopey Price (2-0, 1 KO) weighed in at 9st 9oz (126lbs 9oz), narrowly above the traditional featherweight limit of 126lb ahead of his next test against Jonny Phillips (5-4, 2 KOs), originally pegged for four rounds but now scheduled for six. Phillips, meanwhile, was considerably above the cut-off at 9st 3lbs 6oz (129lbs 6oz).
Lloyd and Barker reported from the bubble that, though again there’s no official requirement for this non-title bout, Price’s trainer Dave Coldwell was annoyed at Phillips’ weight and especially his subsequent decision not to try and run any off. “It’s a matter of respect and courtesy,” noted Barker. “Boxing is supposed to be a gentlemanly sport.”
Also on the card is Chris Billam-Smith (10-1, 9 KOs) vs Nathan Thorley (14-0, 6 KOs) over 12 rounds for Billam-Smith’s Commonwealth cruiserweight championship. Both men hit the scales at 14st 3¾ lbs (199¾ lbs), just beneath the 200lbs cut-off.
And in the show’s curtain-raising attraction, Aqib Fiaz (5-0, 0 KOs) hopes to continue his unblemished start to life as a professional when he faces Kane Baker (13-6, 0 KOs) over eight rounds.
The lightweights and their teams have agreed to a 132lb limit for this contest, with Fiaz just making it at 9st 7¾ lbs (131¾ lbs) while Baker weighed 9st 5¼ lbs (129¼ lbs).
Matchroom Boxing's Fight Camp 2, headlined by Harper vs Jonas, airs live on Sky Sports in the UK and on DAZN in the U.S. on Aug. 7.