Angelo Leo vs Ra’eese Aleem now off after weigh-in drama

Update: A light heavyweight bout between Atif Oberlton and Carlos Góngora has replaced Angelo Leo vs. Ra’eese Aleem as the main event.

On May 9, Angelo Leo vs Ra’eese Aleem was set to headline a Salita Promotions and Manny Pacquiao Promotions event at the Gateway Center Arena in College Park, GA, live on DAZN. However, as reported by Lance Pugmire at BoxingScene, Aleem failed to make weight on Friday for his IBF featherweight title shot at Leo, leading to the cancellation of the main event.

Angelo Leo vs Ra’eese Aleem now off

Aleem (23-1, 12 KOs), the IBF’s mandatory challenger, came in over the featherweight limit of 126lbs by weighing 128.8lbs on May 8. This weigh-in drama has led to the fight being scrapped, thus leaving Salita Promotions and Manny Pacquiao Promotions liable for Leo’s entire $147,000 purse. Georgia rules ensure that Leo, having made weight, is entitled to his full purse.

The Georgia commission allows one hour to attempt to shed the difference and make weight, but Aleem could only get down to 128lbs. There was hope from Salita that Leo (26-1, 12 KOs) would agree to fight despite Aleem missing weight, as there would be no risk of Leo losing the belt. However, Leo’s promoter and BoxingScene owner, Garry Jonas, was not interested in that. The rest of the show will continue.

Reaction to fight cancellation

Jonas expressed his disappointment at the news: 

“It’s unfortunate,” Leo promoter and BoxingScene owner Garry Jonas said Friday. “We didn’t wish that on Ra’eese Aleem. He lost the opportunity to fight for the title on the scale and, unfortunately, it’s not in [Leo’s] best interest to fight him.

“We look forward to [Leo] being back on a Top Rank card in the near future.”

Aleem’s advisor and MP Promotions executive Sean Gibbons also had his say on the news:

“I’m speechless. I’m sick for [Leo], DAZN and my co-promoter, Dmitriy Salita,” Aleem advisor and MP Promotions executive Sean Gibbons said. “Aleem went to many places in the world to fight and never had a weight problem before today.”

Top Rank’s new streaming deal should ensure Leo earns another opportunity soon, whether that be a tune-up fight or a unification opportunity. WBO titlist Rafael Espinoza and WBC titleholder Bruce “ShuShu” Carrington are both promoted by Top Rank.