By Francisco Salazar

Having fought just six weeks ago, lightweight Fidel Maldonado returns to action this Friday night.

Maldonado will face veteran Gerardo Cuevas in an eight round bout at the Santa Ana Star Center in Rio Rancho, N.M.

Rio Rancho is a suburb of Albuquerque, which is the hometown of Maldonado.

Maldonado (21-3-1, 18 KOs) is coming off a 10 round split decision draw on May 20 against Art Hovhannisyan. Maldonado dropped Hovhannisyan in round eight, but was deducted a point for a low blow during the following round.

The 24-year-old Maldonado, who is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions, enters Friday’s bout unbeaten in his last three fights since his knockout loss to Amir Imam in January of last year.

Cuevas (17-17-1, 15 KOs) is the son of Gerardo ‘Pipino’ Cuevas, but he has not had the same success of his father, who was a world welterweight titleholder during the late 1970’s.

Cuevas also fought on May 20, losing by knockout in the fourth round to Emmanuel Lopez. He has lost nine of his last 11 fights.

Welterweight Brian Mendoza (13-0, 9 KOs) will face Daniel Calzada (12-15-3, 2 KOs) in the six round co-main event.

Victory Boxing Promotions, which is run by Chris Middendorf, will promote the card.

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