Alberto Machado and Carlos Morales are two of the best young super featherweights in the world and the combatants will lock horns on Aug. 18 to see who will take that proverbial next step up the rankings ladder.
“I feel honored and extra motivated for this great opportunity that Miguel Cotto Promotions and Golden Promotions are giving me to perform on ESPN.” Machado said. “Carlos Morales is a tough Mexican fighter who is young and hungry like me. I will train as hard as I can to give the fans a great fight and another classic Puerto Rico vs. Mexico rivalry. This will be another test for me on my journey to become Puerto Rico's next world champion.”
Morales moved from Hidalgo, Mexico, to California and has been equally as impressive inside the ring as his upcoming foe. Though “The Solution” doesn’t possess the same sort of firepower as Machado, Morales more than makes up for with great overall boxing ability. Having feasted on similar opposition, Morales isn’t afraid to take on his adversary on enemy soil.
“I understand I am going into the lion's den in Puerto Rico and facing a really good fighter, but I have worked too hard to take a step backwards,” Morales (16-1-3, 6 KOs) said. “I am going to train harder than I ever have before, and I know that at the end of the fight, I will emerge victorious.”
The 10-round bout will headline a Golden Boy Promotions card that will be televised live on ESPN and ESPN Deportes. Complejo Ferial de Puerto Rico in Ponce, Puerto Rico, will serve as the host venue. A co-feature and full undercard matchups will be announced in the coming weeks.