Sources: Flyweight champ Soto to face Takayama

Elwin Soto 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, multiple sources told ESPN on Friday.

Soto (18-1, 12 KOs), 24, of Mexico, 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.