Keith Thurman and Josesito Lopez will be squaring off in the ring this Saturday at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. The WBA Super Welter Champion of the World Boxing Association (WBA) will defend his crown after an absence of one year and 10 months because of personal problems and some physical injuries that needed time to heal.

The champion returns from his long hiatus with the eyes of the entire boxing world on him. One of the most outstanding fighters of the division, he returns at a time when new names have reached the elite and he aims to show that his name is still the best. Thurman, a native of Miami, has been a champion since 2013. He has beaten fighters like Danny Garcia, Shawn Porter, and Carlos Quintana, but in this new stage he wants to face the biggest names of today that have rose to the top in his absence.

For his part, Lopez is a spoiler that is accustomed to fighting big names and coming into fights as the underdog. Lopez was born in California but is of Mexican descent and wants to make a good impression and capture the WBA belt. He has already been tested against rivals such as Saul Canelo Alvarez and Marcos Maidana. His most outstanding victory was against Victor Ortiz in 2012.

Thurman is undefeated in his career of 28 appearances and has won 22 times by knockout, while Lopez has 36 wins, 7 losses, and 19 wins by knockout.