At the weigh-in to this heavyweight fight for a championship of some ill-born alphabet crown, the fighters came to the scale tense but dreamlike in that world before the final bell—a world of possibility in which either boxer could win—each boxer with his own chance at a different life, the life that a win would bring.

And that really is what happens at a prize fight— worlds collide. Prospects and opponents, which is which and who is who, all subject to change upon the moment of a punch. But some chances are greater than others, and the bell has a way of putting dreams to rest.

Tomasz Adamek, former WBC light heavyweight and IBF and IBO Cruiserweight champion of the world, stepped up to the scale looking like a man who did not have to make weight—content and powerful, and businesslike in his approach as he talked and laughed with friends and reporters. Weighing in at 220 ½ lbs., he is a newly minted Heavyweight. Hopeful of his ability to cash in on that minting, he seemed pleased at no longer having to starve himself to make south of 200 lbs.

Adamek weighed in at 214 in his win against the old Polish workhorse Andrew Golota back in October, 2009, and picked up something called the  IBF International Heavyweight Championship belt for his troubles. He weighed 199 lbs against Bobby Gunn back in July of the same year. On the scale Adamek wore his new 21 lbs. well.

Jason Estrada, on the other hand, at 237 lbs., looked like a man who should have made weight. There is much talk before a prize fight— but much of it is covered in clothing. The scale affords no secrets.

Estrada jiggled on his way to the scale, and did his best to suck in his stomach while casting his best death stare. He weighed 247 in his 7th round TKO of the sometimes tricky journeyman Zuri Lawrence back in September of 2009, and close to 242 when he lost a decision to the undefeated Alexander Povetkin back in April. He is 6’ 1” tall. By all accounts, Estrada is quick and slick but he cannot punch. He is 16-2 with only 4 knockouts. He is tailor made for Tomasz Adamek— who can take a punch— which is fortunate— because Tomasz can be hit.

A tentative fight between Adamek and Bernard Hopkins this last year fell through. Jason “Big Six” Estrada, though seemingly game, is no Bernard Hopkins. Estrada has professed umbrage at Adamek for looking past this fight towards a possible bout in the spring with the overly large and demonstrative Mexican-American Heavyweight, Chris Arreola. Beyond that, Adamek is said to be eyeing a match with WBC Champion Vitali Klitschko.

This last year when David Haye stepped out of his scheduled fight with Klitschko, Adamek got the short notice call. His team declined at the time (wisely I think), with Arreola instead taking the fight—and the loss. But having got the notice, Adamek has worked. By the end of tomorrow night he’ll have gained 21 pounds, hold a title of sorts, and a chance to throw his hat into the big money Heavyweight Ring. And Estrada? He’ll jiggle into that life he’s chosen not to think about—as best he could— while training for this fight.