By David Finger

Newly crowned WBO lightweight world champion Jose “Sniper” Pedraza (25-1, 12 KOs) is expected to fight WBA lightweight champion Vasiliy Lomachenko on December 1 on Los Angeles to unify two of the division’s titles. Pedraza returned from a 14-month layoff in March and won two bouts to earn the shot at Beltran.

After dethroning defending champ Ray Beltran, Pedraza gave his fans an unexpected surprise at the Gila River Arena in Glendale, Arizona. Although Glendale is very much Beltran-country, a small contingency of Puerto Rican fight fans came it to support the Cidra native. To their amazement, the champion repaid their support by joining them in the stands to celebrate his win!