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Former super featherweight titleholder Jose Pedraza recently announced a plan to move to the lightweight division, and now it’s been announced that he has signed a promotional deal with Top Rank as he gears up for a return to action soon.
Pedraza, 28, hasn’t fought in 13 months, since dropping the IBF 130-pound belt to Gervonta Davis in January 2017. Top Rank plans to have him back in the ring in March or April for his first fight under their banner.
Here’s what Bob Arum said to ESPN:
“He’s a good fighter and people that we are close to advised us that he was available, that Lou DiBella’s contract was running out and we decided to step in and sign him. He’s a good, competent fighter and he has a lot of skills. He had one bad fight. He’s looked pretty good in all of his other fights.”
Pedraza said he was happy to sign with Top Rank, and that he’s looking to become a world champion in a new weight class. The Puerto Rican fighter won the vacant IBF belt in 2015, beating Andrey Klimov, and made successful defenses against Edner Cherry (which was plenty debatable) and Stephen Smith before losing to Davis.