Dennis Contreras returns to a region that has breathed new life into his career.

The resurgent featherweight from Guadalajara, Mexico headlines the August 27 edition of Boxeo Telemundo, facing countryman and former title challenger Cesar Juarez in the summer season finale. The scheduled ten-round regional title fight takes place at White Sands Event Center in Plant City, Florida, Contreras’ second straight at the venue and fourth in a row in Central Florida.

“This should be a great fight, a really good matchup,” Felix ‘Tutico’ Zabala Jr., owner and president of All Star Boxing, Inc. told krikya360.com. “These are the types of fights we pride ourselves on presenting to the fans; the fights where it’s hard to say who has the advantage.

“’El Martillo’ Contreras is on a hot run, but is running into a tough challenger in War-ez, Cesar Juarez. This is a true pick-‘em, a great way to end the summer season.”

Contreras (24-10-1, 22KOs became the surprise of last summer following the pandemic, scoring an upset fifth-round knockout of Belmar Preciado last August 28 at Osceola Heritage Park in Kissimmee, Florida. ‘El Martillo’ [‘The Hammer’] was brought back to the series—and venue—just five weeks later, bumping off unbeaten Carlos Efrain Flores via sixth-round stoppage last October.

In his most recent start, Contreras overcame a stiff challenge from veteran featherweight Hairon Socarras to claim a dramatic tenth-round stoppage March 12 at the same site hosting this Friday’s show. Overall, Contreras has won four straight—all taking place in the United States dating back to a May 2019 upset points win over then-undefeated Fernando Garcia in Biloxi, Mississippi. It comes after a rough ten-fight stretch which saw the Mexican knockout artist claim just one win.

Juarez (26-10, 20KOs) is now the one in need of a win after having previously emerged as a top featherweight contender.

The 30-year-old Mexico City native remains best known for his twelve-round war with Nonito Donaire, dropping a twelve-round decision in their December 2015 vacant WBO junior featherweight title fight. Juarez has rotated back and forth between the 122- and 126-pound divisions, though having suffered three straight defeats before scoring a confidence-restoring knockout win this past May in Los Reyes La Paz, Mexico.

The bout with Contreras will already mark the third of 2021 for Sean Gibbons-managed Juarez, who opened the year with a points loss to Jordan Gill this past February in London.

Jake Donovan is a senior writer for krikya360.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox