Los Angeles: WBC super-flyweight champion Srisaket Sor Rungvisai has a tough assignment against a familiar foe at the Forum.
The Thai puts his 20-fight win streak and the title on the line in a rematch against Mexico's Juan Francisco Estrada tomorrow, Thai time.
Srisaket, 47-4 with one draw and 41 knockouts, took a majority decision over Estrada at the same venue in February last year.
The 32-year-old southpaw now defends for the fourth time the crown he took from Nicaragua's Roman Gonzalez in 2017 in his US debut at New York's Madison Square Garden.
The Thai won by a majority decision in one of the biggest upsets in boxing history as the previously unbeaten Gonzalez was widely rated as the best pound-for-pound fighter at that time.
Later that year, Srisaket erased doubts about his ability by securing a fourth-round knockout win against Gonzalez in a rematch at StubHub Center in Carson, California.
"I'm excited to be back fighting in the US," said the Thai champion, known in his country as Srisaket Nakornloung Promotion.
"Estrada is a great fighter and we had an amazing fight last year. I believe this fight will be even more entertaining. I'm confident I'll be the winner."
Srisaket has not lost since falling to Mexico's Carlos Cuadras in May 2014.
In his most recent fight in October last year, the Thai, whose real name is Wisaksil Wangek, beat Mexico's Iran Diaz by a unanimous decision in Bangkok to successfully defend the title for the third time.
Estrada, 38-3 with 26 knockouts, is a former WBA and WBO flyweight champion and has won twice since losing to the Thai star to earn another chance at the title.
"I'm extremely excited for this rematch," said the 29-year-old challenger.
"I'm getting ready to bring the title back to Mexico. I'm confident I'm going to win."
Estrada stopped fellow Mexican Victor Mendez in the eighth round in his previous bout in December.
On the same card, Australia-based Irishman TJ Doheny risks his crown in a championship fight.
Unbeaten IBF champion Doheny will face WBA title-holder and hometown hero Daniel Roman in a super-bantamweight title unification bout.
Doheny, 21-0 with 15 knockouts, defends for the second time the IBF crown he took from Japan's Ryosuka Iwasa last August.
"This is a fight you want to see. The best against the best, champion against champion," Doheny said. "I've been asking for this fight since I won the world title and finally it's here.
"There's a lot of respect between myself and Danny... when that first bell goes, the respect will be gone out the window and the fans can expect fireworks."
Roman, 26-2 with one draw and 10 knockouts, has won 18 fights in a row since dropping a 2013 decision to American Juan Reyes.
"This is the fight I wanted," Roman said. "It's a dream come true. I was looking to unify the first fight after winning the belt. I want the best in the division. For me that's the champions.
"Finally, that's happening and it's in my backyard in Inglewood where I grew up, so I'm so excited. That has given me even more motivation to start my quest to hold all the belts." bangkok post/afp