Dimitry Pirog vs. Nobuhiro Ishida set for May 1st

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Quote :: Middleweight titlist Dmitry Pirog (19-0, 14 KOs), making his third title defense, will face Nobuhiro Ishida (24-7-2, 9 KOs) on May 1 in Moscow, in Pirog's native Russia, promoter Artie Pelullo told ESPN.com. Pirog is slated to face Daniel Geale in a 160-pound unification fight on Aug. 25 on HBO, but he first must defeat Japan's Ishida, who is coming off a shutout decision loss to Paul Williams on Feb. 18.

Ishida is known for his stunning first-round knockout of heavily favored James Kirkland in a junior middleweight fight that rated as the biggest upset of 2011. Pelullo said he made a deal with Ishida's promoter, Golden Boy, and that the contracts are signed. He said the deal is contingent on an official sanction from the WBO. "The agreement is predicated on the WBO putting Ishida in the rankings, which we have requested and we think will happen, because he qualifies," Pelullo said.