By Francisco Salazar

Unbeaten welterweight Ed Brown returns to the ring this Saturday night, manager Mike Cericola told krikya360.com Wednesday evening.

Brown will face veteran Gilbert Venegas in an eight round bout at the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Ind.

Brown (17-0, 15 KOs), who resides in nearby Chicago, Ill., made headlines by fighting often during the second half of 2015. From May of last year through December, Brown fought a total of 13 times.

In his last bout on March 4, Brown stopped Marqus Jackson in the fifth round.

Cericola clarified the almost-five month layoff was to keep Brown from burning out.

"Ed was fighting often and the traveling (by plane) was getting to him," Cericola told krikya360.com over the phone. "Ed was never injured. He just needed to take a physical and mental break from the ring. That's all."

Brown, who is also managed by Cameron Dunkin, has faced Venegas before, stopping him in the third round on November 25.

"Venegas is no joke," said Cericola. "After this fight, the goal is to again have Ed fight every six to eight weeks."

Venegas (14-23, 8 KOs) snapped a 12-bout losing streak with an upset win over Rogelio De La Torre on April 16.

In his last bout on July 16, Venegas won a six round unanimous decision over Antoine Elerson in Milwaukee, WI.

Welterweight Jaime Herrera (14-3-1, 7 KOs) and lightweight Jose Arambula (10-0, 4 KOs) are scheduled to fight in separate bouts.

Longtime Chicago-area promoter Bobby Hitz is promoting the card with Emily Pandelakis as the matchmaker.

Francisco A. Salazar has written for krikya360.com since September of 2012 and has covered boxing in Southern California and abroad since 2000. Francisco also covers boxing for the Ventura County (CA) Star newspaper, RingTV, and Knockout Nation. He can be reached by email at santio89@yahoo.com or on Twitter at FSalazarBoxing