Meehan impresses at weigh-in
By Peter Mitchell
September 3, 2004
A BETTING plunge on the Las Vegas strip has slashed Kali Meehan's odds in half for this weekend's heavyweight world-title fight against reigning champion Lamon Brewster.
The plunge came after the Australian-based Meehan stripped off at today's weigh-in for the World Boxing Organisation crown to reveal a new physique specially developed by fitness experts at the Parramatta Eels rugby league club.
Meehan weighed in at 107kg, 5kg heavier than his last knockout victory five months ago.
"That 5kg is all muscle and its all in his biceps," Meehan's manager, Teddy Allen, told AAP after the weigh-in inside the Mandalay Bay Casino.
Meehan, at 196cm, realised he had to bulk up to counter the thicker, power punching Brewster.
The 185cm Brewster weighed in at 103kg – right on the American's best fighting weight.
"I feel stronger and fitter than what I have ever done before and I really thank the Parramatta Eels for what they've done for me," Meehan said.
"They pushed me harder and took me to pain barriers I've never encountered."
Meehan spent 10 weeks of torture with Parramatta's strength and conditioning coach Hayden Knowles.
Meehan entered the training camp bench pressing 100kg and left easily lifting 150kg.
As Meehan flexed his muscles at the public weigh-in, punters were racing to the nearby Mandalay Race and Sports Book to load up on the underdog.
Hours earlier, bookmakers on the Vegas strip had the New Zealand-born Meehan at no-hoper odds of 8-1.
A few hours after the weigh-in, Meehan's odds were slashed to a more respectable 4-1.
Mandalay Bay Race and Sports Book director Tom Kapics said the betting spree began with one Australian punter who dropped a bundle of cash on Meehan's juicy odds.
Kapics refused to name the punter and the size of the bet.
"All I can tell you is he was an Australian," Kapics said.
Brewster remains the heavy favourite, but his odds have slipped from an almost unbackable 1-8 this morning to a still slim, but better value 1-6.
"Kali is basically an unknown and Brewster is coming off a big fight, so that makes Brewster a pretty good-sized favourite," Kapics said.
"But, as we get closer to the fight I expect Meehan's odds to come down a little further."
Brewster knows what its like to enter a fight as the outright underdog.
The 31-year-old won the WBO heavyweight title in April when he shocked the boxing world with a fifth round knockout of the Ukraine's much-hyped Wladimir Klitschko.
Meehan was Brewster's sparring partner in the lead-up to the bout and also fought on the undercard, knocking down American Damon Reed five times in the sixth round before the referee stopped the contest.
Brewster has a 30-win (27 knockout), two-loss professional record.
The 34-year-old Meehan, who lives at Wyong on the NSW Central Coast, has a 29-win (23 KO), one-loss pro record.
The fight at the Mandalay Bay Casino is scheduled for noon Sunday (AEST).
AAP
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