Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez is ready to resume his career and on his own terms.

The unbeaten former super middleweight titlist from Mazatlan. Mexico will end a lengthy layoff with a targeted ring return on December 19. Ramirez will face Alfonso ‘El Tigre’ Lopez in a regional light heavyweight title fight live on Fite TV from a location to be determined.

The event will be presented by the respective promotional companies of both main event fighters, Zurdo Promotions and El Tigre Promotions. A promotional piece offered by both boxes suggested the event will take place in Texas, although an exact venue has yet to be secured as this goes to publish.

Ramirez (40-0, 26KOs) has not fought since a 4th round stoppage of Tommy Karpency last April in Los Angeles. The win marked his light heavyweight debut after having made five successful defenses of the super middleweight title he claimed in an April 2016 win over Arthur Abraham in Las Vegas.

Plans were in place for Ramirez to eventually fight for a vacant light heavyweight title, only to instead go on the shelf due to a lengthy dispute with estranged promoter Top Rank. The two sides officially went their separate ways shortly after Ramirez bailed on a proposed four-man light heavyweight tournament announced earlier this year to fill the vacant WBO title.

Ramirez has since resurfaced with his own promotional company. His upcoming bout will end a 20-month layoff by opening bell, assuming the independent PPV show moves forward.

Lopez (32-3, 25KOs) enters riding a 10-fight win streak including three victories in 2019. The bulk of his career has taken place in his home state of Texas, though the 38-year old from Huntsville remains best known for a narrow points loss to former lineal middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik in 2011.

The upcoming bout with Ramirez will end a 13-month layoff for Lopez, who scored a 10-round decision over Denis Grachev last November in his most recent outing.

Also budgeted to appear on the show is perennial Top 10 heavyweight contender Michael Hunter II (18-1-1, 12KOs). An opponent has yet to be established for the Las Vegas native, who has called out every major fighter in his division but to no avail.

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