By Per Ake Persson
WBC Silver heavyweight champion Johann "Reptile" Duhaupas (34-3) will defend the title against Carlos Takam (33-3-1) January 28 but where isn´t set yet.
Both Duhaupas and Takam are based in France but purse bids for the right to stage the fight were won by Italian promoter OPI since 82 (formerly OPI 2000), who promote Takam.
It will be the first defence of the title by Duhaupas, who won the title last April with an upset win over Robert Helenius. Takam had a chance to face Luis Ortiz on November 12 in Monaco, but opted to pursue the opportunity with Duhaupas instead.
IN OTHER NEWS: LAS VEGAS - "Knockout Night at the D" returns Friday night, November 18, airing live (9 p.m. PT / 12 a.m. ET) on CBS Sports Network from inside the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center tent, located in the heart of the downtown Las Vegas casino district, one block away from the world famous Fremont Street (200 S. 3rd St.).
North American Boxing Association (NABA) United States lightweight champion Reynaldo Blanco (13-2, 7 KOs) makes his first title defense against challenger Demond "Body Shot" Brock (12-3, 4 KOs) in the 10-round main event.
The "Knockout Night at the D" series, presented by the D Las Vegas and Downtown Las Vegas Events Center, is promoted by Roy Jones Jr. (RJJ) Boxing Promotions.
Hall of Fame announcers Jim "J.R." Ross and Al Bernstein will call the action from ringside, along with roving reporter Sean Wheelock, on CBS Sports Network.
The 29-year-old Blanco, fighting out of the Dominican Republic by way of Puerto Rico, captured his NABA US title belt this past January, taking an 8-round unanimous decision from previously unbeaten Angel Luis Ocasio (8-0-2). In his last fight in July, Blanco stopped another undefeated challenger, 14-0 Mario Beltre, in the second round for the Dominican Republic lightweight championship.
New Orleans-native Brock, who learned how to box serving a 15-year prison sentence, defeated Chuy Gutierrez (14-0-1) in the June 10th "Knockout Night at the D" show to retain his World Boxing Council (WBC) United States lightweight title in his first title defense. Brock, 35, originally captured his title belt in 2015, by way of an 8-round unanimous decision over Oscar Valenzuela (9-1-1).
In the 8-round co-feature, Puerto Rican junior middleweight Daniel "El Duro" Cruz (11-1, 10 KOs) takes on former Mexico welterweight champion Norberto Gonzalez (22-8, 13 KOs).