Brinkley-Quillin Is On

Brinkley-Quillin Is On RENO, NEVADA — Weeks of bargaining and negotiation culminated with some bad blood at Thursday’s weigh-in at the Silver Legacy Resort Casino, as hometown favorite and former title challenger Jesse Brinkley came in heavy for his Telefutura-televised bout with undefeated prospect Peter Quillin, which takes place down the street at the Reno Events Center tonight. After deliberation between the two camps, the intriguing crossroads fight will go on as scheduled with the vacant USBO Super Middleweight title at stake. Brinkley (35-6, 22 KOs) of nearby Yerington, Nevada is coming off a ninth-round stoppage defeat to Lucian Bute in a failed attempt and claiming the IBF 168-pound crown last October. The loss ended a properly matched nine-fight win streak highlighted by an upset decision win over Curtis Stevens last January in Reno. Brinkley’s run to a title shot was as unlikely as one could be if you think about where he was back in 2007, having lost four of five fights. With a win over Quillin, Brinkley is instantly back in the mix at super middleweight, but a loss could mean the end of his viability as a contender. Quillin (23-0, 17 KOs) of Hollywood, California does not have a resume littered with big names, but he has beaten everyone he has been in the ring with to this point. Brinkley represents a step-up in competition for Quillin, who wants to campaign at 160-pounds after tonight’s fight. Quillin last fought just over two months ago, as he quite easily dispatched journeyman Dennis Sharpe inside of four rounds in Fairfield, California. Quillin initially weighed-in over at 165.2-pounds, but took the scale in the nude and came in at 165 even. Brinkley, who has publicly admitted to ballooning up in weight between fights in the past, apparently had trouble making the contracted 165-pound weight limit. In Nevada, there is a one pound leeway in the contract weight unless specified. Due to a communication error perhaps, Brinkley’s contract stated 165- pounds, while Quillin’s stated 165-pound max. Brinkley came in at 166.6-pounds, which would have been over the allowance by .6 pounds anyway, but Quillin’s camp vehemently declared that Brinkley needed to come in at 165-pounds even. A deal which included a pay increase for Quillin salvaged the fight. Brinkley was determined to show that he had made 166-pounds, which is what his contract allowed him to weigh, but by the time he came back to the weigh-in the digital scale had been taken away. Brinkley, either bitter over the weight discrepancy or testy because he had been in a sauna all day, refused to pose for any pictures and made his presence at the weigh-in very brief. In the Telefutura-televised co-feature, Lonnie Smith (12-2-2, 9 KOs) of Las Vegas, Nevada will take on once-promising prospect David Rodela (15-3-3, 6 KOs) in a six-round super featherweight fight. Smith, an exciting action fighter, has rebuilt his career, reeling off seven straight wins since his last defeat back in 2007. Rodela, who has seen his career take a downturn, going 1-2-1 in his last four bouts, represents a major step up in opposition for Smith. The jury is still out on what David Rodela will show up in Reno tonight however. Since suffering a third-round knockout to Dante Jardon over a year ago, Rodela struggled to a split decision over Eric Cruz and wound up with a draw against 4-3-1 Juan Montiel last September. Smith and Rodela both scaled 130-8-pounds Thursday. Former amateur standout Jesus “Chuy” Elizondo of Reno will make his long awaited professional debut against Rodrigo Espinoza (0-0-1) of Lindsay, California in a four-round super middleweight fight. Elizondo, once nationally ranked as an amateur, has been attempting to make his debut several times over the last two years, but injuries have always popped up at the wrong time. Espinoza, who trains out of the McDermont Field House in Lindsay, was cut in the first-round of his only pro bout, which resulted in a technical draw. Elizondo weighed in at 165.4-pounds, while Espinoza scaled 164. Andrew Rempp (1-2-1) of Yerington will take on debuting Jose Sandoval of Modesto, California in a four-round featherweight fight. Rempp has been out of action since dropping a four-round decision to 0-2 Johnny Mancilla in December of 2009. Rempp scaled 126.4-pounds, while Sandoval scaled 124.6. Cameron Dunkin-managed Trevor McCumby (2-0, 2 KOs) of Glendale, Arizona will take on Ritchie Cherry (2-1, 1 KO) of East St. Louis, Missouri in a four-round cruiserweight fight. McCumby, who scored a first-round stoppage in his last outing just last month, weighed in at 180.4- pounds. Cherry, who fought to a no-contest in March due to a headbutt, scaled 178.4-pounds. Tickets for the event, promoted by Golden Boy Promotions, Let’s Get It On Promotions and Don Chargin Productions, are available online at Ticketmaster.com. USBO Super Middleweight Championship, 10 Rounds Brinkley 166.6 Quillin 165 Super Featherweights, 6 Rounds Smith 130.8 Rodela 130.8 Super Middleweights, 4 Rounds Elizondo 165.4 Espinoza 164 Featherweights, 4 Rounds Rempp 126.4 Sandoval 124.6 Cruiserweights, 4 Rounds McCumby 180.4 Cherry 178.4 Photos by Stephanie Trapp/[email protected]. Mario Ortega Jr. can be reached at [email protected]..

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