by Miguel Rivera
Former WBA super featherweight world champion Alberto "El Explosivo" Machado will go straight to a rematch against Andrew Cancio of California.
Héctor Soto, vice-president of the company Miguel Cotto Promotions, confirmed to Carlos Gonzalez that the negotiations for a rematch with Cancio are very advanced.
In what was a big shocker last month, the Puerto Rican suffered his first career defeat when he was battered and knocked out by Cancio on February 9 in Indio, California.
The reunion between Machado and Cancio could take place on June 8 at Madison Square Garden in New York, on the eve of the Great Puerto Rican Parade in the Big Apple.
"We are very close to that rematch," said Soto. "We are working with that right now. The date of June 8 at Madison Square Garden is possible."
But the date could change, since according to Soto, the scheduled heavyweight bout between champion Anthony Joshua and Jarrell Miller, scheduled for June 1 at the MSG, could force a date change.
"The date is under evaluation, since Joshua announced his fight in New York and we would not like that event to affect us with respect to the sale of tickets," he said.
For his part, Machado (21-1, 17 KOs) reiterated that at this moment he does not want another fight other than a rematch to avenge his first career setback.
"The rematch is a clause in the contract and the decision is made. I'm going to look for a rematch," said Machado, who has resumed his preparation.
"The date is June 8 and there are some details to be adjusted. It was the date that we had destined for my defense, but in view of losing my title, that will be the night that I will recover it. That defeat I'm going to erase from my record. Cancio did his job on the night he beat me, but now I will prepare to be a two-time world champion."
