Cotto vs Canelo: Guillermo Rigondeaux signs with Roc Nation, added to PPV card

With Andre Ward out of action and not facing Alexander Brand as scheduled, a spot on the Cotto-Canelo pay-per-view undercard opened up recently. The search is over, as super bantamweight world champion Guillermo Rigondeaux has signed with Roc Nation Sports, and will fight on the show.

Rigondeaux (15-0, 10 KO) has been out of action since last New Year's Eve, and recently split from manager Gary Hyde, declaring himself a free agent. Roc Nation has stepped in and signed Rigondeaux, 35, and have put him into a fight with Drian Francisco for the November 21 card. Rigondeaux will be up second on the pay-per-view broadcast in a bout scheduled for 10 rounds.

Recently, Rigondeaux was stripped of his WBO title for inactivity, and was moved to "champion in recess" by the WBA for the same reason. (This also allowed the WBA to elevate "world" champion Scott Quigg to "super world" champion, thus allowing a unification bout in February with IBF titleholder Carl Frampton.)

Francisco (28-3-1, 22 KO) is not a hopeless fighter or anything, but the 33-year-old Filipino is undersized at featherweight, where this fight will take place. Francisco has had his most career success at 112 and 115 pounds. He's 2-1 this year, losing a TKO-1 to Jason Canoy on May 30 in the Philippines, most recently fighting on September 6, scoring a first round KO over a tomato can type opponent.

In addition to Cotto-Canelo and Rigondeaux-Francisco, the card will feature