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Papot misses weight for Paro showdown | 05:35<\/p>\n
All of which followed incredible scenes inside Pat Rafter Arena on Wednesday, with undefeated Frenchman David Papot forced to hit the scales behind towels held by his team after initially coming in over the 66.68kg limit.<\/p>\n
Yet even when stripped down, Paro\u2019s rival still weighed 66.72kg \u2013 or 40 grams over.<\/p>\n
So after consecutive failed attempts, the fighter then disappeared to lose the additional weight, with a Team Papot spokesperson blaming the slight miss on No Limit\u2019s scales being on an elevated stage, rather than on the arena floor.<\/p>\n
Regardless, the Frenchman soon returned and landed bang on the limit.<\/p>\n
Despite the weigh-in drama, Team Papot are incredibly confident their boy is set to cause an Australian boxing boilover on Thursday night, and have loaded up with bookies who have wound him outside $9.<\/p>\n
Elsewhere, there were also major concerns over the Dominican Republic\u2019s Jorge Santana \u2013 who fights Queenslander Liam Wilson in the co-main \u2013 after he toppled from the stage while testing his own weight.<\/p>\n
Walking up on stage about 20 minutes before the event started, Santana was removing his shoes for the preliminary test when he leaned against an oversized, fabric backdrop \u2013 mistaking it for a solid wall.<\/p>\n
From there, the fighter fell 1.2m and landed incredibly awkwardly, appearing in real discomfort as No Limit staffers ushered him to a seat.<\/p>\n
Speaking with media later however, No Limit CEO George Rose confirmed the fighter \u2013 who eventually weighed in \u2013 had also been medically cleared to compete.<\/p>\n
Paro, meanwhile, appeared unfazed by the chaos unfolding around him.<\/p>\n
Asked afterwards by Fox Sports Australia about the weigh-in drama, he said: \u201cWe\u2019re professionals and part of being professional is making weight.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m sure he wants a shot at the title and he needs to make weight to do so.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll jump in with anyone, but we have weights for a reason.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd I want him to make weight because I want him at his best.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want no excuses when I put him on his back.\u201d<\/p>\n
READ MORE<\/p>\n
PRESS CONFERENCE: World title twist as Aussie card rocked by chaos<\/a><\/p>\n \u2018DO SOMETHING\u2019: How Terence Crawford sparked Aussie\u2019s Las Vegas gym war<\/a><\/p>\n Paro ready to go in ‘guns blazing’ | 00:50<\/p>\n The Mackay southpaw also said he expects Hearn to be watching from over in the UK, with a win pitching the Queenslander into a potential showdown with Crocker, who only won the title last Sunday.<\/p>\n \u201cI think so,\u201d he said when quizzed on the promoter watching. \u201cI think he\u2019ll be watching closely.\u201d<\/p>\n Paro then promised to use his welterweight debut to put the entire division on notice.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd a win certifies that,\u201d he said. \u201cBut a dominant win inside the distance certifies it even more.<\/p>\n \u201cIf the opening is there for the finish I\u2019ll take it with both hands and close the show.\u201d<\/p>\n Across the room meanwhile, Team Papot member David Musset said his fighter had initially made weight on their hotel scales.<\/p>\n \u201cEverything was perfect,\u201d he said, before nodding at the scales up on stage.<\/p>\n \u201cLook at the (elevated) floor.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m a promoter in France and so I notice that problem.<\/p>\n \u201cBut look, it\u2019s 40 grams.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s nothing.<\/p>\n \u201cDavid doesn\u2019t even have to do anything for an hour, his body will continue to work and he will burn those grams.<\/p>\n \u201c(Laughs) Or maybe he could shave his beard.<\/p>\n \u201cBut everything is OK.\u201d<\/p>\n And eventually it was. <\/p>\n \u201cAnd this will be a very, very good fight, believe me,\u201d Musset continued. \u201cThey have him at nine dollars, which is so much over.<\/p>\n \u201cBut that\u2019s OK. We like that.\u201d<\/p>\n So you\u2019ll have a bet?<\/p>\n \u201cOf course,\u201d he grinned. \u201cI like money.\u201d<\/p>\n