OFFICIAL WEIGH-IN: COMING TO FIGHT!

July 20, 2007 - Photos by Will Hart

As both fighters took to the stage this afternoon at the Mandalay Bay Events Center, accompanied by boxing royalty Marco Antonio Barrera, Juan Manuel Marquez, Oscar De La Hoya and Shane Mosley, the crowd in attendance was hungry to cheer on their favorite fighter.

Winky took the stage first, followed by his entourage and then Bernard Hopkins along with his crew. Both fighters weighed in exactly at 170, the catch weight at which the Ring magazine championship fight is taking place. Hopkins, his usual bravado-filled self, taunted Winky by mocking his opponent's fighting style by putting his arms up in front of his face and slapping the air. Winky seemed to brush off Hopkins' teasing until the face off between the two fighters, when Hopkins, seemingly unprovoked, thrust his hand into Wright's face, pushing the fighter's head backwards and instantaneously causing both camps to leap into action. On the small dais, camp members pushed and shoved each other as officials struggled to control the melee while others fought to escape the struggle. Some fans in the crowd surged forward as photographers snapped away... Eventually the situation was brought under control as each fighter left to different sides of the dais.