By Ryan Burton

Welterweight contender Josesito Lopez (34-7) returned to the ring on December 10th with an unanimous decision victory over Todd Manuel. The fight took place in Los Angeles on the Jesus Cuellar-Abner Mares undercard.

The fight was Lopez's first since his March, 2015 loss to Andre Berto at Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, Calif.  Lopez had surgery on his left hand a month later and this was his first fight since the injury.

"It has been 20 or so months. It felt good. I got a little boo boo, a head butt but I am happy to be back. I have had a long enough vacation and I just want to fight. Hopefully I can get right back in there," said Lopez.

The fighter known as the Riverside Rocky had a lot of success in the fight against Berto and was up on two of the three scorecards when he was caught and stopped in the sixth round.  After another tune up bout, Lopez said that he is very interested in facing Berto again.

"I definitely want a rematch but it will take me another fight or so to get another tune up and get ready for those big fights. Hopefully I get another fight in a couple months and then I am ready for the big guys," Lopez explained.

As for the rest of the division, Lopez is very intrigued with the March 4th Danny Garcia-Keith Thurman unification fight.  He feels that it truly is a 50-50 fight.

"That is one of the more exciting of the welterweight fights. Those are two of the big dogs in the division and I think the winner of that one will be thought of as the best in the division. Right up there with Pacquiao. I think any of those fighters can be the best fighter," Lopez told BoxingScene.com.

"It is a fairly even fight. I can't really call that fight. I think Thurman has shown a little bit more with his opponents in fights but Danny Garcia wins man. He finds a way to win and he is tough, smart and strong. It is a fairly even fight."

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