By Miguel Rivera

According to reports in the Japanese press, former WBA 154-pound interim champion Nobuhiro Ishida (22-6, 7KOs) will face James Kirkland (27-0, 24KOs) on the Erik Morales-Marcos Maidana pay-per-view undercard on April 9 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. The fight will take place at a weight above the junior middleweight limit. Ishida has not been active since the twelve round decision loss to Rigoberto Alvarez in 2010. Ishida has never been stopped inside the distance. Kirkland-Ishida will be scheduled for eight rounds.