Arum: Valero to fight Prescott

Edwin Valero, THE RING's No. 3-rated lightweight, is close to completing a deal to face Breidis Prescott on July 25 in Mexico, promoter Bob Arum said.

The fight will take place in either Cancun or Toluca, which is near Mexico City, he said.

Valero (25-0, 25 knockouts) is coming off a sensational knockout of Antonio Pitalua to win the vacant WBC lightweight title on April 4 in Austin.

Prescott (21-0, 18 KOs) burst onto the international scene when he knocked out then-unbeaten Amir Khan in one round in September. On Feb. 20, the Colombian, who is THE RING's No. 8-rated lightweight, won by disqualification when Humberto Toledo bit him on the shoulder.

Valero and Prescott are a combined 46-0, with 43 knockouts.

Also, it was reported that Valero's wife was shot by unknown assailants who drove by the fighter's home in Merida, Venezuela on motorcycles this past Sunday.

According to an article that ran in the Venezuelan daily Meridiano this past Tuesday, 22-year-old Yennifer Carolina was admitted to a nearby hospital suffering from a gun wound to her left leg. The bullet reportedly entered her leg near the thigh and exited by her ankle. The story also mentioned that Valero brought his wife to the hospital.

Junior middleweight Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. will fight on the July 25 card but his opponent has not been secured.

Chavez (39-0-1, 29 KOs) outpointed Luciano Cuello on March 28 in Tijuana, Mexico.