Ortiz vs Hooker: Arslanbek Makhmudov out, Pablo Cesar Cano vs Jonathan Navarro new co-feature

The March 20th Vergil Ortiz Jr. vs. Maurice Hooker DAZN card has received a slight adjustment, as unbeaten heavyweight Arslanbek Makhmudov is out of his co-feature bout with TBA and “will now return in April against a very big challenge.” Instead, veteran Pablo Cesar Cano will take on unbeaten Jonathan Navarro in a junior welterweight crossroads match.

The rest of the card, including Anabel Ortiz’s minimumweight title defense against Seniesa Estrada, remains intact.

Cano (33-7-1, 23 KO) remains as inconsistently lethal as ever at 31 years old, though he presently finds himself on his longest winning streak since 2012. Since suffering a second-round knockout loss to Marcelino Lopez in 2017, he’s taken a technical decision over unbeaten Ruslan Madiyev, demolished Jorge Linares, and survived an early knockdown to beat down Roberto Ortiz in two.

“I am very happy to be returning on such an important card on March 20” said Pablo Cesar Cano. “I am delighted for the chance to be active once again, especially because of all that has happened due to the pandemic. I am motivated, and I have a positive mentality. I’m going to make sure I train very hard to be at optimum shape on fight night.”

The 24-year-old Navarro (17-0, 9 KO) is definitely still in the building stage. His best win to date came in 2018, when he dominated and finished fellow unbeaten Damon Martin. Like Cano, he hasn’t seen action since 2019.

“I am very excited for this fight,” said Jonathan Navarro. “You’re not going to want to miss it. This fight will be a big step up for me, and it will bring me closer to becoming a world champion. We are working very hard back at camp and making sure we are prepared for Cano. I’m coming to make a statement in the 140-pound division. I will let everyone know that I’m coming for a belt very soon!”