Everything went according to plan for Jamie McDonnell as he comfortably made the weight for Saturday’s IBF world bantamweight title fight.
McDonnell cut a confident figure as he weighed in at 8st 5lb 12oz in front of his home town fans at the Frenchgate Centre.
The Hatfield fighter’s self-assurance was in stark contrast to that of opponent Julio Ceja who looked more than a little relieved as he made the weight at 8st 3lb 12oz.
The Mexican was a late arrival at the weigh-in and was wearing several layers of thick clothing, suggesting he had been frantically attempting to drop a final few pounds.
After the formality of the weigh-in, the two went eye to eye for the final time before they will meet in the middle of the ring at the Keepmoat on Saturday night.
Stuart Hall – who will compete in the chief support fight on the night – was forced to drop his underwear to come in under the bantamweight limit.
After initially weighing in 2oz over, the Darlington fighter quickly removed his boxer shorts and got back on the scales to register a weight of 8st 5lb 12oz.
There was to be no similar tactics for Hall’s opponent for the IBF inter-continental title Sergio Perales.
The US fighter was well over the limit at 8st 7lb 4oz and given time to drop the additional weight.
Other weights: Jason Cunningham (7st 13lb 8oz) v Uzzy Ahmed (7st 13lb); Jason Ball (11st 4lb 8oz) v Lewis Taylor (11st 4lb 12oz); Lee Connelly (9st 10lb) v Jamie Sampson (9st 11lb 12oz).