By Steve Kim

On Wednesday in Japan, WBA 122-pound titlist Danny Roman makes the first defense of his title by facing Ryo Matsumoto in Japan. And should win, he could be back fighting in America and hopefully with a major television outlet involved.

"We've been ordered by the WBA that the winner of that fight has to face Moises Flores. We have a few days to negotiate after the fight. So naturally that's our next step," explained Alex Camponovo, the General Manager and matchmaker for Thompson Boxing, that promotes Roman (23-2-1, 9 KO's)

"That's a good challenge for him and a good opportunity to feature him in the United States. We've had conversations with Flores' people before we made the Matsumoto fight but we were well on our way in negotiations for that fight. So if (Roman) does well, he'll be here in the United States (for his next fight) most likely."

Roman won the title back on September 3rd as he traveled for the first time to Japan and halted Shun Kubo in nine. It capped off a big 2017 that began with an upset victory over Adam Lopez in Atlantic City that was telecast on the 'ShoBox' series.

Flores (25-0, 17 KOs), who is rated number one by the WBA, has not fought since facing Guillermo Rigondeaux last June in a fight that was eventually ruled a no-contest as Rigondeaux struck Flores after the bell had sounded to end the first round.

Originally, the blow that knocked Flores out was ruled a legal blow but then changed by the Nevada State Athletic Commission. At the time Rigondeaux was the WBA's champion at 122. The sanctioning body ordered a rematch between the two, but Rigondeaux was stripped of the title after moving up by two weight divisions last December and suffering a TKO defeat to Vasyl Lomachenko.

Steve Kim is the news editor for BoxingScene.com.