By Alexey Sukachev

It’s official. WBO middleweight champion Dmitry Pirog (19-0, 14 KOs) will put his title at risk for the third time against WBO #9-ranked and former WBA interim-light middleweight beltholder Nobuhiro Ishida (24-7-2, 9 KOs) of Japan - on May 1 at the Dynamo Palace of Sports in Krylatskoye, Moscow, Russia. The contracts were signed between Kirill Pchelnikov, the Russian promoter of Pirog, and his American counterparts in Golden Boy Promotions, on behalf of Ishida. If Pirog retains the championship, he will likely face IBF champion Daniel Geale in a unification targeted for August.