Elwin Soto is going on the defense…

The 24-year-old Mexican professional boxer will defend his WBO flyweight world title against former strawweight champion Katsunari Takayama on the Canelo Alvarez–Billy Joe Saunders undercard on May 8 at AT&T Stadium, according to ESPN.

Soto (18-1, 12 KOs) will be making the first defense under the Matchroom Boxing banner, after agreeing to a co-promotional contract on April 9. Soto is also promoted by Zanfer Promotions. 

Soto won the title in 2019 with a 12th-round KO of Angel Acosta. He has made two defenses of the belt, including a unanimous decision victory over Carlos Buitrago last October.

Takayama (32-8, 12 KOs), 37, of Japan, is a five-time strawweight titlist. He moved up in weight in December in a six-round unanimous decision victory over Reiya Konishi in Osaka.