Rene Alvarado and Carlos Morales will meet in a junior lightweight world title elimination fight on Dec. 8, Golden Boy Promotions announced on Friday.
The bout will headline a “Golden Boy Fight Night” card on Facebook Watch at the Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, California.
Alvarado (29-8, 20 KOs), 29, of Nicaragua, has won five fights in a row, including a decision over perennial contender Denis Shafikov two fights ago, since being outpointed by former world titlist Yuriorkis Gamboa over 10 rounds in March 2017.
“Fans in the United States know me because they know that I’m a true warrior. I’m always given tests, and I always pass them. I have the ‘Solution’ to defeat Carlos Morales this December,” Alvarado said, referencing Morales’ nickname.
Morales (17-3-3, 6 KOs), 28, of Los Angeles, has lost two of his past three fights, including a 10-round unanimous decision to Alberto Machado, who went on to win a junior lightweight world title in his next fight, and a 10-round majority decision to 2017 ESPN.com prospect of the year Ryan Garcia on Sept. 1. Morales pushed Garcia harder than he had been pushed in his professional career.
“I am really excited to finally face Rene Alvarado,” Morales said. “He’s a great warrior who has faced tough competition. We have contrasting styles, and this will be a must-watch event.”
Golden Boy announced other fights for the undercard but did not specify which bout would be the co-feature. Instead, the company said viewers will be able to participate in a poll on Saturday night’s “Golden Boy Fight Night” card to determine the co-feature.
The Dec. 8 card also will include a 10-round lightweight fight between prospect Hector Tanajara Jr. (15-0, 5 KOs), 21, of San Antonio, Texas, and Roberto “Tito” Manzanarez (36-2, 29 KOs), 23, of Phoenix and featherweight up-and-comer Joet Gonzalez (20-0, 11 KOs), 25, of Glendora, California, in a 10-round bout against an opponent to be determined.
Also, Puerto Rican junior welterweight Luis Feliciano (8-0, 5 KOs), 25, will appear in an eight-rounder, and featherweight Javier Padilla (6-0-1, 5 KOs), 23, of Indio, California, will compete in a four-round bout. Their opponents have not been determined.