IN BRIEF : Barkley Tips Scales Wrong Weigh

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — World Boxing Council middleweight champion Iran Barkley weighed in at 159 pounds this morning, one pound under the limit, for his title defense against Roberto Duran tonight.

Duran weighed 156 3/4.

Initially, officials weighed Barkley at 164 1/4, drawing derisive hoots from the Duran camp. After some confusion, and protests from Barkley’s handlers, the champion was re-weighed at 159.

Barkley’s camp explained the 5 1/4-pound discrepancy by saying that Barkley stood at the back edge of the scale the first time he was weighed, causing the scale to register improperly.

Barkley wore a jacket to the weigh-in which had the words “Sensational Davey Moore” on the back, in reverence to his late friend who lost his junior middleweight title to Duran in 1983.