Elijah Pierce and
Lorenzo Parra have been rescheduled to headline a Manny Pacquiao Promotions card in the U.S.
The Ring has learned they’ll meet February 28 in a 10-round bout for a secondary WBO featherweight title at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York. They were originally set to meet November 29 on Pacquiao's inaugural card at Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula, California, but Pierce withdrew because of an illness.
Their fight will be streamed on Amazon’s Prime Video.
“Pierce versus Parra is a fight fans were eagerly waiting for, and we’re excited to bring it back as the centerpiece of our second U.S. show,” Sean Gibbons, president of Pacquiao Promotions, said. “Turning Stone Resort Casino has become the home of Hall of Fame Induction Weekend, which is synonymous with our mission at MPP as we continue to build the future stars in boxing.”
Pierce (21-2, 17 KOs) is ranked No. 2 by the WBA and WBO. The 29-year-old contender from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, enters his clash against Parra (23-1-1, 17 KOs) on a 12-fight win streak, with his last victory being a ninth-round KO of Michael Dasmarinas on July 25. Nine of those wins came by stoppage.
Parra, 31, of Machiques, Venezuela, is coming off a majority draw against unbeaten featherweight Omar Trinidad (19-0-2, 13 KOs) on August 15. Prior to the draw, Parra had won nine straight fights, though seven of those wins came against opponents with either zero victories or just one win in their careers.
Rising 19-year-old lightweight prospect
Curmel Moton (8-0, 6 KOs) will also make his return against an opponent to be named later. Moton last fought on May 31, as he won every round on the judges’ scorecards in an eight-round, unanimous decision over Renny Viamonte Mastrapa.
In the 10-round co-feature,
Bryce Mills (20-1, 7 KOs) and
Tobias Green (12-3-1, 4 KOs) will meet for a secondary WBC 130-pound title. Mills, 24, of Syracuse, New York, has won 14 straight fights and will fight at Turning Stone for the seventh time.
Pacquiao’s son, Jimuel Pacquiao (0-0-1), will fight for the second time, also against an opponent to be announced. He fought to a majority draw against Brendan Lally in his debut November 29.