By Rene Umanzor

Former champion Daniel Ponce de Leon (44-5, 35KOs) is planning to move up in weight to 130-pounds and reveals that he recently accepted an offer to fight Gary Russell Jr. on September 7th, televised on Showtime and likely in Texas. In his last fight, Ponce was stopped in the ninth round by Abner Mares in May. The tough Mexican is now looking to move up to a new division to start fresh. He says the Russell (22-0, 13KOs) fight would have to happen at 130-pounds, as Russell fights at 126. Russell is fast but tends to hurt his hands, as he did against Vyacheslav Gusev in March.

"I'm ready, the bitter pill of defeat is over and now I have to look forward and keep training. I was offered Gary Russell Jr., and I want that fight but at 130. I'm going to fight on September 7, a week before Canelo's fight [with Mayweather]. That is what we are doing right now. I hope Russell takes the fight, I already accepted it. Golden Boy wants the fight, the television network wants it and now it is only up to him to accept. It would be in El Paso, Texas," Ponce said.

Rene Umanzor covers boxing in Mexico for The Record.