Ahmad Reda has vowed to fight Jake Wyllie despite the Queenslander weighing in around 2kg overweight, branding his rival’s weight miss “embarrassing” and promising to knock him out.
Wyllie tipped the scales at 63.18kg ahead of their heated showdown as the co-main event on the Paul Gallen–Nelson Asofa-Solomona card in Sydney, leaving the camps in discussions over whether Friday night’s bout will proceed.
Gallen v Asofa-Solomona | Friday November 6 from 7pm AEDT | Australian sporting icon and crossover boxing king Paul Gallen returns to the ring to face his biggest opponent yet, Nelson ‘Big Nasty’ Asofa-Solomona. | Order now on Kayo Sports.
No Limit boss George Rose later confirmed the fight would go ahead, with an agreement that Wyllie must weigh in again on Friday at no heavier than 67.6kg.
Reda, who weighed in at 61.36kg, made it clear he still wanted to settle their rivalry in the ring.
“Man, it’s embarrassing. It’s embarrassing. You can’t call yourself a professional. I’m gonna knock out this kid. It’s a joke,” Reda said.
“But what do you do, you know? I’m still gonna fight him. Just gonna knock him out for that tomorrow.”
Reda was also slightly over the lightweight limit, although Rose said his weight would be easily addressed.
Rose was far less forgiving of Wyllie’s miss.
“If Ahmad takes his undies off he makes the weight, so that’s no issue. But two kilos it’s very unprofessional,” Rose said.
“We’ll have a conversation about this between now and what’s gonna happen going forward, but it’s very disappointing that he’s missed weight by so much.
“This was shaping up to be a fantastic fight. We just wanted to have a fair fight as well too.”
Australian boxing great Danny Green criticised Wyllie’s professionalism, pointing to the sacrifices he made throughout his own career.
“I’ve never ever once in my career not made weight. Not once,” Green said.
“I was a consummate professional. I was extremely dehydrated, extremely tired, but I made sure I did it because I was a pro.
“So for the young bloke wanting to come in overweight…it’s a little bit unprofessional.”
The drama follows an increasingly bitter build-up between Wyllie and Reda, whose rivalry had threatened to steal some of the spotlight from the heavyweight main event.
Wyllie has promised to knock out the undefeated Sydneysider, while Reda has questioned the quality of his rival’s opposition.
Big NAS v Gallen: Final Face-Off | 04:27
There was further weight drama elsewhere on the card, with Mobin Khahfazeh coming in slightly over the light heavyweight limit for his clash with Paulo Aokuso.
Khahfazeh was given two hours to make weight.
Meanwhile, Gallen and Asofa-Solomona both made weight for their heavyweight headliner, with a massive 33kg separating the pair.
“I think it means trouble for Paul Gallen,” said journalist Peter Badel afterwards.
“This is almost like a Tszyu Fundora size differential.
“15 years younger. 22 cm taller. 33 kgs heavier. Everything is in NAS’s favour…
“I believe we will see a KO statement from Nelson on Friday night.”
Reda goes in on over weight opponent | 04:39
Gallen said he’s not overly worried by the size difference.
“I’m here to fight,” he said.
“I’ve trained hard. And I’ll be confident when I get in the ring. That’s all that matters.
“His opponents haven’t tested him. He hasn’t been hit once.
“I’ll be there and I’ll be hitting him.
“Im determined and I have enough confidence in my ability.”
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