By Miguel Rivera

Former lightweight world champion Jose "Sniper" Pedraza will make his 140-pound debut on September 21 on a Top Rannk card that would take place in Stockton, California.

Top Rank has yet to finalize an opponent, but Pedraza is slated to face a veteran fighter with experience at the junior welterweight limit.

Pedraza, 30, who reigned as the lightweight champion of the International Boxing Federation (IBF) at 130 and the World Boxing Organization (WBO) champ at 135 pounds, was enthusiastic about this decision to move up a division.

Pedraza is motivated to become a three division world champion and he wants to secure big fights at the new weight.

“It will be a fight to see how I get used to the weight, with a view to fighting for a world title. The reason why I went up is not because I can't fight at 135. I see the 140 division as being very interesting. Great challenges are going to come in this new division,” Pedraza told Jorge Loza.

“I will gain some strength. The speed will always be there. Five pounds, I don't think it makes much of a difference. I don't think it slows me down. It can add more strength to me. It all depends on the work we do in the gym,” added Pedraza.

Currently, Josh Taylor (15-0, 12 KOs) reigns in the IBF at 140 pounds. José Ramírez (25-0, 17 KOs) has both belts of the WBO and the World Boxing Council (WBC) after knocking out Maurice Hooker last week, while Alberto Puello (17-0, nine KOs) occupies the interim title of the World Boxing Association ( AMB).

Pedraza (26-2, 13 KOs) won the WBO Latin title by technical knockout, when he put away Antonio Lozada in Kissimmee on May 25. In December 2018, he lost a twelve round unanimous decision to Vasily Lomachenko in a high stakes unification fight.