Welterweight contender Egidijus Kavaliauskas, known as "Mean Machine," has been on the short list of potential opponents for world titleholder and pound-for-pound star Terence Crawford, but he can solidify his position with a win in his next fight.

Kavaliauskas will take on Roberto Arriaza in a 12-round eliminator on Nov. 16 (ESPN+, 6:30 p.m. ET) at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City. Kavaliauskas-Arriaza will serve as the co-feature on the card headlined by the previously announced fight between junior welterweight world titlist Maurice Hooker (24-0-3, 16 KOs) and mandatory challenger and Oklahoma City resident Alex Saucedo (28-0, 18 KOs), which will air live on ESPN and ESPN Deportes beginning at midnight.

Kavaliauskas (20-0, 16 KOs), 30, a two-time Lithuanian Olympian fighting out of Oxnard, California, was a top candidate to challenge Crawford on Oct. 13, but the fight instead went to Jose Benavidez Jr.

Arriaza (17-0, 13 KOs), 28, of Nicaragua, will be fighting in the United States for the fifth time in his past seven fights but also will be stepping up the level of his opposition.

Welterweight contender Egidijus Kavaliauskas said he is happy to be moving closer to a potential title shot. Mark J. Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports

"I am happy to be on this card and to move one step closer to my ultimate goal, which is a world title shot," Kavaliauskas said. "Arriaza is a dangerous opponent, and I never overlook anyone. This is going to be an action-packed fight, and I am confident that I will be victorious."

Kavaliauskas and Arriaza will both be fighting for the third time this year.

The undercard will also include:

• Junior welterweight Cletus "The Hebrew Hammer" Seldin (21-1, 17 KOs), 32, of Shirley, New York, who has been idle since suffering his first loss by lopsided 10-round decision to Yves Ulysse Jr. in December, will return to face Nelson Lara (17-10-4, 9 KOs), 34, of Nicaragua, in an eight- or 10-round bout.

• Lightweight Albert Bell (12-0, 4 KOs), 25, of Miami, who recently signed with Top Rank, will have his first fight for the company in an eight-rounder against Carlos Padilla (16-8-1, 10 KOs), 29, of Colombia, who will look to end a four-fight losing streak.

• Light heavyweight banger Trevor McCumby (24-0, 19 KOs), 26, of Glendale, Arizona, will fight Felipe Romero (20-15-1, 14 KOs), 34, of Mexico, in an eight-rounder.

• Middleweight Tyler Howard (15-0, 10 KOs), 24, of Crossville, Tennessee, will take on Isiah Seldon (12-1-1, 4 KOs), 30, of Somers Point, New Jersey, in an eight-round fight. Seldon is the son of former heavyweight world titlist Bruce Seldon.

• Heavyweight Trey Lippe Morrison (15-0, 15 KOs), 29, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, the son of the late heavyweight titlist Tommy Morrison, will fight an opponent to be determined in a six-round bout.

• Bantamweight Aaron Morales (4-0, 3 KOs), 20, of Oklahoma City, will face an opponent to be determined in a four-rounder.

• Junior featherweight Rasheen Brown (1-0, 0 KOs), 20, of Philadelphia, will face Sebastian Baltazar (1-2, 0 KOs), 26, of Tacoma, Washington, in a four-round fight.