By Miguel Rivera
Former world champion Jose "Sniper" Pedraza (22-1, 12 KOs) keeps focused on the agenda - which is a scheduled return to the ring even though he has not received the contract to seal his next match.
Originally the former IBF lightweight king (130 pounds) was scheduled to face Jamel Herring on July 15.
However, the new date provided to him is July 29, against a different opponent, as part of the preliminary fights of the event that is headlined by a junior welterweight fight between Mikey Garcia and Adrien Broner at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
"From the beginning we had been told about three possible names. Two of them fought and last one that is remaining is Herring. We said yes but we also let them know that our interest is to fight an opponent with the trajectory to lift the career of Pedraza. We accepted [a fight with Herring], but they never sent us a contract because it never existed," said Luis Espada, stepfather and trainer of the fighter, to Carlos Gonzalez.
This past January, Pedraza lost the IBF 130-pound crown to Gervonta Davis and since that defeat he's been waiting for an opportunity to formally make the jump to the lightweight limit of 135-pounds.
"At one point they mentioned Anthony Peterson, who has a defeat against Brandon Ríos by disqualification. It was a fight that I liked because it could be sold for television, but it seems that will also change," said Espada.
Meanwhile, Pedraza continues to visit various gyms.
"I'm still training to fight on that date (July 29)," said Pedraza.