Mexico’s Elwin Soto will return to the same Southern California location where he won his junior flyweight world title to make his first defense.
Golden Boy Promotions announced on Friday that Soto will defend against the Philippines’ Edward Heno on Oct. 24 in the main event of its “Thursday Night Fights” series (RingTV.com, regional sports networks, 10 p.m. ET) at Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio, California.
One June 21, also at Fantasy Springs, Soto (15-1, 11 KOs), 22, scored an upset when he knocked out Angel “Tito” Acosta in the 12th round to win a 108-pound world title.
“This fight will be just like my last one,” Soto said. “I will train to the best of my abilities because I never underestimate anyone. I want to work hard to be the best in my division.”
Heno (14-0-5, 5 KOs), 26, who has fought all of his previous bouts in the Philippines or Japan, has won five fights in a row. He began his career with draws in his first three fights.
“I have worked my whole life for this opportunity to get a world title shot,” Heno said. “My life changed from the moment I started working with my manager Marty Elorde and signed with Senator Manny Pacquiao of MP Promotions, which headed by Sean Gibbons. And now I have a chance to fight world champion Elwin Soto. My life could got get any better. Mexico versus Philippines is the greatest rivalry in boxing. I look forward to Oct. 24 and hearing my name being called as the new WBO champion of the world.”
In the co-main event, Acosta (20-2, 20 KOs), 28, of Puerto Rico, will fight for the first time since Soto took the title from him. .He will face an opponent to be determined in a 10-round flyweight bout.