by Rick Reeno
According to Top Rank's CEO Bob Arum, junior welterweight contender Mike Alvarado (33-1, 23KOs) will likely contend for the vacant WBO championship in his next fight.
Juan Manuel Marquez, who faces Manny Pacquiao on December 8th in Las Vegas, is going to vacate his WBO 140-pound title, says Arum.
The vacant belt would provide Alvarado with the opportunity to fight for a belt - and Ruslan Provodnikov (22-1, 15KOs) is a potential opponent.
"The WBO title will be vacant because Marquez is giving up the title, the 140-pound title, and I think [WBO President] Paco [Valcarcel] would sanction Ruslan Provodnikov with Alvarado - and that would be one hell of a fight," Arum said.