By Jake Donovan

No matter what happens in the ring Saturday evening in Cancun, Bryan Vasquez will go home empty-handed. The 27-year old from Costa Rica was forced to vacate his interim 130 lb. title after showing up well above the limit for a dangerous showdown with Mexico’s Sergio ‘Yeyo’ Thompson.

The belt will remain on the line for Thompson, who came in at 129.2 lb. for their 12-round headliner. Vasquez officially weighed 133 lb., three pounds above the divisional limit.

Normally, such matters call for a two-hour period in which the fight is required to attempt to make weight. However, safety precautions disallow a fighter to drop that much weight in such a short amount of time. 

Vasquez will likely have to pay a fine, which will be split between Thompson’s camp and the local commission.

Should the bout end in any fashion other than a win by Thompson (30-3, 26KOs), the title will remain vacant. 

The bout marks Thompson’s second crack at a title, dropping a 12-round decision to Takashi Miura in their fun war last August, also in Cancun. The 31-year old contender has won three straight, though has been extended the full 10-round distance in each of his two wins in 2014. 

Vasquez (33-1, 17KOs) was enjoying a nice streak following the lone loss of his career, an 8th round stoppage at the hands of full 130 lb. titlist Takashi Uchiyama on New Year’s Eve in 2012. Four straight wins have followed, including a 12-round win over previously unbeaten Jose Felix Jr. on the Pay-Per-View televised undercard of Manny Pacquiao’s rematch win over Tim Bradley this past April in Las Vegas. 

The win over Felix Jr. was the lone defense of the interim title Vasquez won in a five-round technical decision over Rene Gonzalez last October at home in Costa Rica. Saturday’s showdown with Thompson marks his third career fight in Mexico, having scored knockouts over Jorge Lacierva and Juan David Sierra in his previous appearances.

The show will air live on Televisa in Mexico and via next-day tape delay on Fox Deportes in the United States.

Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene.com, as well as the Records Keeper for the Transnational Boxing Ratings Board and a member of Boxing Writers Association of America . Twitter: @JakeNDaBox