Rafael Mensah to fight Alberto Machado for WBA world title

Ghana’s Rafael Mensah dream of becoming Ghana’s ninth world champion is on course as he will be facing WBA junior lightweight champion Alberto Machado of Puerto Rico in July or August.

Golden Boy Promotions president Eric Gomez told ESPN on Thursday stressed that he has reached an agreement with Don King for the mandatory fight between junior lightweight world titleholder Alberto Machado and the King-promoted Mensah.

“It wasn’t easy but we reached a deal with Don King for a summer fight between Machado and Mensah,” said Gomez, who added the paperwork is in the process of being completed.

Machado (19-0, 16 KOs) won the 130-pound belt by eighth-round knockout of Jezreel Corrales in October and will be making his first defense.

Mensah (31-0, 23 KOs) has a glossy record but has never faced a remotely recognizable opponent and has never boxed outside of Ghana, although now he is training in the United States.