By Rick Reeno

MGM Grand, Las Vegas - As BoxingScene.com previously reported, junior middleweight contender James Kirkland (32-1, 28KOs) is strongly being considered to open up HBO's November 8th card from the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.

BoxingScene has heard that negotiations to match him against Gabe Rosado (21-8, 13KOs) are heating up and it's only a matter of working out the weight limit. Kirkland will not move up to 160-pounds, so his team is attempting to meet Rosado in the middle with a catch-weight of 156-pounds.

The event, co-promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and Main Events, will be headlined by a highly anticipated light heavyweight unification between Bernard Hopkins and Sergey Kovalev.

Kirkland was last seen in action last December, at the same venue, stopping previously undefeated Glen Tapia in six rounds.