If there are fights to be made this summer by his current handlers, Luis Feliciano wants to make sure he’s ready for the occasion.

The unbeaten junior welterweight prospect has made his way back to California, where he lives and trains after relocating from his original hometown of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Feliciano was quarantined with his family in the Midwest since the outbreak of the ongoing coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in mid-March, opting to be with loved ones since boxing is the only reason he lives in California these days. 

Golden Boy Promotions, Feliciano’s career long promoter is eyeing its first post-pandemic show in July, with designs of unbeaten lightweight Ryan Garcia (20-0, 17KOs) to headline a July 4 card behind closed doors at an unspecified venue in California. Such plans remain ambitious at this point, but serve as enough of a warning for all willing participants to rev up their engines.

“It’s why I (returned) to California at this time,” Feliciano (14-0, 8KOs) told BoxingScene.com. “I don’t know if they have the green light yet. But I’d much rather be ready for any opportunity that comes along. We’re all anxious to return to the ring, so you have to take what’s offered or else who knows how much longer we’ll have to wait.

"Me, I’d rather stay ready for anything.”

Feliciano has yet to make his way to a fight card in 2020, a letdown following his five-win campaign in 2019. The 27-year old Boricua—who graduated from Marquette University with a degree in criminology and law studies one year prior to turning pro in 2017—ended his third full year as a pro with a 10-round win over Herbert Acevedo. The bout was his third straight at Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio, California, where he has spent literally half of his pro career and has developed a cult following in the region.

Whenever his next fight takes place, it will occur without fans in attendance due to social distancing measures. It will include a ring, a bell and presumably a willing opponent—all of which is what really matters most.

“I have no problem fighting without fans there,” Feliciano notes. “It takes me back to the beginning of my career, fighting early on undercards when fans weren’t in attendance or just starting to arrive to the arena. There weren’t too many people around to see those early fights in my career.

“I love my fans, but there will come a time when they can be there in attendance when I fight. For now, as long as they get to see me on DAZN or any other (network or platform) airing boxing, that’s what I’m ready for. It’s tough times for everybody, so being able to get back to work is what’s most important for my career.”

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