PANAMA CITY, Panama -- Eusebio Pedroza will defend his World Boxing Association featherweight title today for the 20th time when he faces fellow Panamanian Jorge Lujan.
The weigh-in was scheduled to take place this morning and the 15-rounder is set to begin at 4:20 p.m. EST at the New Panama Gym.
Pedroza, 28, has held his title longer than any current champion. He is favored to beat Lujan, the former world bantamweight title holder, who is making his first attempt at the featherweight title. Pedroza has not lost since earning the title in 1978 with a 13-round knockout over Spaniard Cecilio Lastra.
Lujan ruled the bantamweights from 1977-80 until he lost in his sixth title defense to Julian Solis of Puerto Rico. Lujan, 29, then lost to then bantamweight champion Jeff Chandler in 1981, and one year later lost to junior featherweight champion Victor Sergio Palma of Argentina.
Lujan is 27-7 with 16 knockouts, but with the exception of one match has not beaten any outstanding fighters. He defeated Colombian Mario Miranda in a 10-round decision in May 1983, thus assuring himself a place in the rankings.
Pedroza, 37-3-1 with 25 KOs, has beaten all challengers to his crown with the exception of American Bernard Taylor, whom he tied in a 15-rounder in Charlotte, N.C.
Taylor is expected to be among the 16,000 on hand for Saturday's bout and is likely to challenge the winner.
Fight supervisor Dr. Keith Arthur, the WBA Medical Committee president, has said he will enforce a new rule which allows the ring doctor to halt the fight and examine a boxer. If necessary, the doctor can end the bout if, in his opinion, serious injuries could result.
Three Dominicans will also be on the program, each fighting 10-rounders.
Ramon Espinal, a flyweight, will face Panamanian Hilario Zapata, who is ranked second by the WBA; Darim Alvarado Liriano will battle WBA welterweight challenger Carlos Trujillo; and featherweight Pascual Polanco will take on the WBA's sixth-ranked featherweight, Bernardo Checa.