By Doug Fischer

Sources close to the promotion have confirmed to MaxBoxing that undefeated 130-pound titlist Edwin Valero will defend his WBA belt against the WBA's no. 8 ranked junior lightweight, Takeshiro Shimada, on June 12th in Tokyo.

Valero's original opponent, Argentina's Israel Perez, has pulled out of his mandatory title defense because of a knee injury. Shimada, a 36-year-old native of Tokyo, holds a 22-3-1 (15) record. The Japanese vet is riding a 15-bout unbeaten streak (14-0-1) and has never been stopped in his 11-year pro career. 

But Valero, 23-0 (23), has made a career of stopping opponents. The Venezuelan southpaw has been training in Las Vegas for the fourth defense of the title he won in August of 2006. If he is successful vs. Shimada, his next fight is expected to take place in Texas, sometime in September.