IN BRIEF : Barkley Tips Scales Wrong Weigh

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.