By Jake Donovan

From the moment he knocked out Alberto Machado to win the super featherweight title, Andrew Cancio envisioned a future filled with repeat business.

As much will be the case for his next fight, as Cancio seeks his third win of 2019 in a mandatory title defense versus Nicaragua’s Rene Alvarado. Terms were reached for a planned November 23 rematch at Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio, Calif.

“The fight is signed,” Ray Chaparro, Cancio’s manager confirmed to BoxingScene.com via text message on Wednesday. “We agreed to it (Tuesday night).”

Representative from Golden Boy Promotions—which houses both boxers—declined comment to BoxingScene.com, as the event has yet to be formally announced.

The fight will mark Cancio’s seventh appearance at Fantasy Springs Casino in his last eight starts, a string that began with his first fight versus Alvarado (31-8, 20KOs) back in Dec. 2015. Cancio won the bout by 8th round knockout, followed by a 3rd round stoppage of former titlist Hugo Cazares in March 2016. A knockout loss to Joseph Diaz Jr. later that September was enough for Cancio—17-4-2 at the time and having lost three of his last six bouts to that point—to call it a career.

The Ventura, Calif. native had a change of heart last spring, returning with a new manager in Chaparro and with that a renewed passion for the sport. Four straight wins have followed, including two over previously unbeaten Machado in 2019. The first came in February, with Cancio recovering from a 1st round knockdown to thrice drop Puerto Rico’s Machado in the fateful 4th round to win the title and kicking off the Year of the Upset.

Their rematch in June was a one-sided affair, with Cancio dominating the action from start to finish before ending matters in three rounds. Both bouts took place at Fantasy Springs, where he has emerged as a crowd favorite.

It was hoped that he could land a rematch with Diaz, but first has to settle up his mandatory obligation.

Alvarado resurfaced as a number-one contender following a 12-round win over Carlos Morales last December. The 30-year old Managua native—whose twin brother Felix is a reigning junior flyweight titlist—has won seven straight heading into his first career title fight, including impressive showings versus Roger Gutierriez and Denis Shafikov.

Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox