By Jake Donovan

All boxers not only braved the cold weather and snowfall but also made weight for Friday night’s Top Rank Boxing on ESPN telecast live from Grand Casino in Hinckley, Minnesota.

Headlining the show, St. Paul’s own Rob Brant returns home for the first time as a defending titlist, putting his recently acquired middleweight belt on the line versus unbeaten challenger Khasan Baysangurov.

Brant (24-1, 16KOs) tipped the scales at a trim and ready 158.6 pounds for the first defense of the middleweight title he claimed in a landslide decision over Japan’s Ryota Murata last October.

Baysangurov (17-0, 7KOs) weighed in at 158.8 pounds for his first career title fight.

Friday’s bout will mark Brant’s 11th appearance at the Grand Casino, but the first with a major title on the line.

“It’s a true honor to be back here in my backyard,” Brant told Top Rank’s Crystina Poncher after making weight. “Tomorrow night, I’m looking to keep the fight in the middle of the ring. All of the talking is done, now it’s time to work.”

In Baysangurov comes a game, unbeaten challenger whose first title fight also serves as his stateside debut. The 21-year old from Grozny has every bit of confidence in following in the footsteps of his cousin, Zaurbek Baysangurov who briefly held a super welterweight title earlier this decade.

“It’s a very big (fight) for me,” said Baysangurov. “I’m very excited and I’m ready. All my fans, wait and see. Tomorrow night ‘… and new champion!’ You will see.”

Also on the ESPN telecast, which begins at 9:00pm ET:

Joshua “Don’t Blink” Greer weighed 117.8 pounds for his scheduled 10-round bantamweight clash versus Giovanni Escaner, who weighed 116.2 pounds.

2016 U.S. Olympian and current unbeaten super featherweight contender Mikaela Mayer (9-0, 4KOs) of Los Angeles clocked in at a cut and trim 129.6 pounds for a 10-round regional title fight versus Mexico’s Yateli Larios, who also weighed 129.6 pounds.

FULL WEIGHTS

Rob Brant, 158.6 lbs vs. Khasan Baysangurov, 158.8 lbs—12 rds, middleweight

Joshua Greer Jr, 117.8 lbs vs. Giovanni Escaner, 116.2 lbs —10 rds, bantamweight

Mikaela Mayer, 129.6 lbs vs. Yareli Larios, 129.6 lbs —10 rds, super feathweight

Steven Nelson, 179.4 lbs vs. Felipe Romero, 179 lbs—6/8 rds, light heavyweight

Derrick Webster, 165.2 lbs vs. Lennox Allen, 164 lbs —10 rds, super middleweight

Tyler Howard, 159.8 lbs vs. Cristian Olivas, 159.6 lbs —8 rds, middleweight

Ismail Muwendo, 134.6 lbs vs. Hevinson Herrera, 138.8 lbs—8 rds, super lightweight

Kevin Cruz, 134.2lbs vs. Rondale Hubbert (to weigh in later)—8 rds, lightweight

Albert Bell, 133 lbs vs. Edward Kakembo, 132.6 lbs —8 rds, lightweight

Cem Kilic, 167.4 lbs vs. Zachariah Kelley, 165 lbs —6 rds, super middleweight

Ramiro Hernandez, 126.2 lbs vs. Gavino Guaman, 125.6 lbs —6 rds, featherweight 

Joe James, 138.4lbs vs. Demetrius Wilson (to weigh in later)—4 rds, super lightweight

Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox