By Mark Vester

We may get to see a big battle of punchers on July 25. Top Rank's Bob Arum advised Michael Rosenthal of The Ring Online that a deal is very close to being completed for WBC lightweight champion Edwin Valero (25-0, 25KOs) to make his first title defense against Breidis Prescott (21-0, 18 KOs) of Colombia. The fight would take place on the Latin Fury 9 pay-per-view that Top Rank is putting together in Mexico. Junior middleweight contender Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. will likely headline.

Valero splashed on the American scene on April 4 in Texas with a two round wipeout of Antonio Pitalua. Prescott is best known for his first round knockout of superstar Amir Khan from last September.

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