Gary Russell Jr from Maryland, USA will make the sixth defense of his WBC featherweight belt against Filipino Mark Magsayo at the Borgata Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City on Saturday night.
The 33-year-old Russell Jr (33-1; 18), who fights from the southpaw stance, won the WBC belt on 8 February 2020 when he stopped Johnny Gonzalez in the fourth round.
He would go on to make successful defenses of the belt against Patrick Hyland (tko 4), Oscar Escandon (tko 7), Joseph Diaz (pts 12), Kiko Martinez (tko 5) and Tugstogt Nyambaya (pts 12) in his last fight in February 2020.
It is interesting to note that he has only fought once a year since 2015, with the only loss on his record coming against Vasyl Lomachenko on 21 June 2014 in a clash for the vacant WBO featherweight belt.
Masayo, 23, who is listed at No 2 by the WBC, made his pro debut on 25 May 2013 and has compiled a record of 23-0: 16.
He is coming off two good wins inside the distance in 2021, against Pablo Cruz (21-3) and Julio Ceja (32-4-1).
Magsayo, who will be having his first world title fight, has power with a 69.57 per cent knockout record, but the odds are that the champion will have the edge and go on to win on points over 12 rounds.
One betting site has odds of minus 340 for Russell and plus 270 for the challenger.
The other main organisation champions are Leo Santa Cruz (WBA super), Leigh Wood (WBA secondary), Emanuel Navarette (WBO) and Kiko Martinez (IBF).