By Jake Donovan

Mauricio Pintor hopes to have better luck in this week’s Telemundo headliner than was the case a week ago for fellow second-generation boxer and fellow capital city native Saul ‘Baby’ Juarez.

The welterweight hopeful from Mexico City returns home this Friday, facing crosstown city rival Edson Ramirez. Their scheduled 10-round welterweight bout airs live on Telemundo from local venue favorite Auditorio Blackberry, which last week saw Juarez drop a spirited 10-round decision to former 108-pound titlist Ganigan Lopez.

“I am extremely motivated coming into this fight, defending my WBC (regional) title in front of my fans,” states Pintor (21-3-1, 13KOs) of this weekend’s headliner.

For Juarez, it lessened his chances of becoming the first in his fighting family (older brother and former four-time title challenger Raul Juarez, and father Raul Lopez) to win a major title in the pro ranks.

Pintor has a different goal to pursue, hoping to follow in the footsteps of his famous fighting uncle, former two-division champion and Hall of Fame enshrined Lupe Pintor.

He has a long way to go but the good news is that he knows it. His ring return in 2016 following a three-year absence has been slow out the gate although he seems to be back on track as he fights for the second time this year.

Pintor scored a 10-round win over Diego Cruz this last March, also on Telemundo in a different part of his hometown.

In Ramirez (18-3-1, 8KOs) he gets a stiff challenge from a local rival. Ramirez has never been stopped as a pro and has suffered just one loss since his first year as a pro, coming last month in a decision defeat to former lightweight titlist Anthony Crolla last March.

“Winning this fight will put me in position to enter the rankings to fight the top contenders,” notes Pintor, who hopes to fight in an eliminator - if not outright for a major title - by early 2020.

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