Natasha Jonas’ trainer has let rip in a crazy rant as he questioned the scales as his charge weighed in.
Jonas will take on hot prospect Lauren Price in an all-female bill at the Royal Albert Hall on Friday night, with the unified welterweight world titles on the line.
Lawrence Lustig / BOXXERDrama unfolded as Price and Jonas weighed in[/caption]
The pair stepped on the scales as the career-defining night drew closer, with the pair looking to meet the 147lbs limit.
Jonas’ trainer Joe Gallagher kept a close eye on rival Price as she stepped on to the scales.
Prior to the pair being brought on stage, Gallagher investigated the scales and was left furious, suggesting they needed a calibration certificate.
He believed that they were deliberately light to help Price make the weight limit, which he suggested the Welsh fighter struggles to make.
He shouted: “There is no calibration certificate on them scales, They look light.
“Until there is one on them, then there will be no weigh-in or no main event.”
Luckily, despite Gallagher’s protests the show went on and the pair successfully weighed in with fight night approaching tomorrow night.
But it was an incredible rant from the renowned coach that stole the show, as he unloaded a furious outburst at the equipment being used.
He told Sky Sports on the live broadcast: “They’re not calibrated scales. I’ve got the certificate, the sticker is there on stage and they were calibrated on January 9.
“We are here in March. The scales should be put on the stage and then calibrated. Not calibrated in a hotel and then moved. Once the scales are moved, they’re not calibrated any more.
Lawrence Lustig/ BOXXERGallagher was left fuming with the scales[/caption]
“Everyone that weighed in was light. I’m only protecting Natasha when I hear that Price is struggling to make the weight.
“The point is we have this huge, prestigious event and we can’t get a proper set of calibrated scales. People say it is me kicking off again but this is a world title fight.
“I’ve got to be careful here because I will get fined. Technically this isn’t a world title fight because they’ve not been calibrated but nobody will push that.”
In the wake of his words, promotion BOXXER were forced to release a statement.
It read: “The scales were calibrated and the British Boxing Board of Control are happy that everything is correct.”
Nonetheless, Jonas and Price’s fight will go ahead with huge stakes, as the 40-year-old looks to continue to cement her superb legacy in the sport.
Jonas is in the twilight years of her career and is looking to claim victory and stop one of female boxing’s brightest rising stars.
Price has her own plans of wiping out a big name and claiming her spot at the pinnacle of the division.
And Gallagher’s words at the weigh-in have left a sour taste in her mouth as she looks to get the job done.
She added: “There’s been drama all week. Gallagher is trying to make it about himself, but it’s Jonas versus Price.
“(I’ll just stay) Cool, calm, collected. Just looking forward to going out and showing how good I am.
“It makes for a great fight, I respect Tash, I’m proud to be part of it. I’m in my prime, it’s my time and I’ll be taking those belts back to Wales.”
