Cano To Mix It Up With Morales As Part Of HBO PPV's Mayweather-Ortiz Card

With Lucas Matthysee withdrawing, Mexico City's Pablo Cesar Cano will step into the ring to face Erik Morales as part of HBO Pay-Per-View's "Star Power" card on Saturday night.
Cano, known as "El Demoledor" will battle Morales for the WBC Super Lightweight world championship on Sept. 17 from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, where the card is topped by Floyd Mayweather and Victor Ortiz facing off in a 12-round fight for Ortiz's WBC Welterweight world crown.
Matthysee had to back out last week after contracting a viral infection.

Also on tap under the Star Power heading: Canelo Alvarez and Alfonso Gomez battling in a 12-round fight for Alvarez's WBC Super Welterweight title from Staples Center in Los Angeles. Also live from Las Vegas is an opening bout showcasing undefeated rising star Jessie Vargas against top contender Josesito Lopez.

The mega event is promoted by Mayweather Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Cerveza Tecate, DeWALT Tools, AT&T and Southwest Airlines.

With knockout power that has brought an end to 17 of his 22 wins, Cano (22-0-1, 17 KOs) has the tools to topple Morales on Sept. 17. The current NABF champion at 140 pounds, a title he won in June of 2010 when he defeated Oscar Leon, and the No. 12-rated WBC contender, Cano has stopped Jorge Romero and Pablo Lugo in his last two bouts. He was preparing for an upcoming bout when he was offered the biggest fight of his young career.

Not only is the WBC Super Lightweight World title on the line, but also local bragging rights as it will be a clash between Tijuana's Morales and Mexico City's Cano. The fight figures to be one that will produce fireworks, especially considering that Cano is trained by Rudy Perez, the former trainer of Morales' longtime nemesis Marco Antonio Barrera who under Perez's guidance dealt Morales' two defeats.