MANHATTAN BEACH, Calif. -- Scott Quigg is so fanatical about his conditioning that he has kept a daily diary of everything he has eaten for the past five years.
But Quigg, a former junior featherweight world titleholder, failed to make weight on Friday afternoon and won't have a chance to win a featherweight title from Oscar Valdez when they meet on Saturday (ESPN and ESPN Deportes, 10:30 p.m. ET) at the StubHub Center in Carson, California.
Valdez easily made weight for his fourth defense, coming in at 125.8 pounds for the 126-pound title fight. However, Quigg was 128.8 pounds, so far over the limit that by California State Athletic Commission rules he was not allowed to try to get any closer. In California, if a fighter is more than 2 pounds over the contract weight he is not allowed to attempt to cut more weight, the reasoning being that the fighter has already dried out and an attempt to lose more would be dangerous to his health.
The fight was in some jeopardy on Friday night, but if it takes place and Valdez wins, he will retain the title. If he loses, the title will become vacant.
The Valdez and Quigg camps were negotiating a payment from Quigg to Valdez in addition to what Valdez will get from the California commission fine. More significant, however, was that the Valdez camp wanted Quigg to agree to a Saturday morning weight check -- with a limit of around 136 pounds but to be negotiated -- while the Quigg camp was refusing a weight check.
"I'm so focused and disciplined. [Thursday] I was 3 pounds over, which is normal. I tried and I tried. There's nothing more that I could do. I apologize to Oscar and his team," Quigg said. "I've got to stay focused on the fight. But [missing weight] is not acceptable. We'll deal with it. I apologize to everybody."
By rule, the California commission fined Quigg 20 percent of his official $100,000 purse with half going to Valdez (23-0, 19 KOs), 27, a two-time Mexican Olympian, and the other half going to the commission.
Quigg, however, will make far more than the $80,000 he'd be left with. The package for the Quigg side is closer to $500,000 plus even more money for British television rights.
"It's very surprising because if you know Scott Quigg, he's the most meticulous fighter I know when it comes to his weight," said Matchroom Boxing's Eddie Hearn, Quigg's promoter. "All the things he usually does, his body wasn't responding. [Thursday] night he worked out and he would usually lose 3 or 4 pounds. He lost one. You have to think about his health. I feel for Scott. He's devastated. He wanted to challenge for the title. It's very frustrating."
Hearn said Quigg (34-1-2, 25 KOs), 29, of England, would continue to fight at featherweight win or lose on Saturday.
Valdez, who will add $10,000 from Quigg's purse to his career-high $420,000 purse, brushed off Quigg's weight issues.
"It won't be any different for me. I did my job," Valdez said. "The result will be the same. I'll come out with the win. I'll be ready."
Said Manny Robles, Valdez's trainer: "If he's overweight, he's overweight. It's very unprofessional of him and his team."
The rest of the fighters on the card made weight, including for the junior lightweight co-feature. Andy Vences (20-0, 12 KOs), 26, of San Jose, California, was 129.2 pounds and Erick De Leon (17-0, 10 KOs), 26, a southpaw from Detroit, was 129.8 for the 130-pound fight. Vences and DeLeon will each make $25,000.