Former WBO super featherweight world champion Masayuki Ito (26-2-1, 14KOs) of Tokyo will fight on February 2 in the city of Haikou in China, where he will see action as a lightweight champion contender.

He will face the #15 world ranked lightweight contender under the WBO, China's Yongqiang Yang (13-0, 10KOs).

The fight will be part of the undercard to the mandatory clash between WBC, WBO super lightweight world champion José Carlos Ramírez and top challenger Víctor Postol.

The event called "Super Fight" will be promoted by Chinese promoter Li Sheng of Shanghai SECA in association with Bob Arum of Top Rank. ESPN+ will carry the fight in the United States.

For Ito, it will be his second return to the ring since he was dethroned as the WBO super featherweight world champion by Jamel Herring, by decision in May 2019 at Osceola Heritage Park in Kissimmee, Florida, USA.

Ito conquered the title in July 2018 by beating Puerto Rico's Christopher "Pitufo" Díaz by decision in Kissimmee, Florida. In September 2019 at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Ito returned to the ring and won by TKO in the sixth round over Indonesian champion Ruben Manakane.

Ito has found new motivation to move forward in his professional career, given that on November 7 his third son was born. The Japanese boxer been represented by Top Rank.

Ito emphasizes the important nature of the his upcoming contest with the following words - "Yonggiang Yang could be a dangerous opponent, but, I will have to put an end to this Chinese fighter and doing everything in my power in order to get the job done and return to Japan with an important victory."