After Alberto Machado lost his junior lightweight world title by upset fourth-round knockout to Andrew Cancio, he had a decision to make.
Machado had struggled to make the 130-pound weight limit for the Feb. 9 defense at the Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, California, and had to decide whether to go for the immediate rematch for which he had the contractual option or move up to the 135-pound lightweight division.
He elected to seek the rematch in his next fight, Golden Boy Promotions president Eric Gomez told ESPN. The fight likely would take place on June 8 (DAZN) at Fantasy Springs, Gomez said.
“Machado wants the rematch. He really wants the rematch and he has a rematch clause, so we’re looking at doing the rematch,” Gomez said. “We had talked to him about maybe going up to 135 pounds, because after the fight he told me he did not eat for four days. He had a very tough time making weight. He was only nibbling on stuff. He killed himself to make weight. Miguel Cotto [Machado’s co-promoter] came up to us that night and said something was not right.”
Gomez said Machado would begin his weight cut sooner to help him get down easier for the rematch than he did for the fight in February.
Cancio’s victory over Machado is the leader for upset of the year. Machado was making his third title defense and was a huge favorite to beat Cancio, who had retired after a ninth-round knockout loss to Joseph Diaz in September 2016.
But Cancio (20-4-2, 15 KOs), 30, of Blythe, California, returned 19 months later, won two lesser fights and then shockingly knocked out Machado (21-1, 17 KOs), 28, a southpaw from Puerto Rico.
Cancio, who works a day job for a gas company, survived a first-round knockdown from a Machado left uppercut and in the fourth round knocked down Machado three times, all with body shots, before the fight was stopped.