By Rey Colon

It's been revealed that hot lightweight amateur Jose Pedraza will jump to the professional ranks under the promotional hands of Gary Shaw and Javier Bustillo. Besides winnning Bronze at the 2007 Pan American Games and competing in the 2008 Olympics, he won Gold at the 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games.

Pedraza, who turns 22 on May 8, had received an initial offer by Golden Boy Promotions for about $100,000 divided into two installments of $ 50,000 plus a package of fights per year but he did not accept the offer.

In December, Pedraza and Shaw spoke at a card put together by Universal Promotions, and thereafter they continued their negotiations which should be wrapped up officially next week according to sources. Pedraza will receive a signing bonus in one payment and his career will be developed in the United States and Puerto Rico.

Rey Colon covers the Puerto Rican boxing scene for Sport Press.