Josesito Lopez back in the ring Dec. 13 against Mike Arnaoutis on Fox Sports 1

Josesito Lopez of Riverside will be back in the ring for the first time in six months when he takes on Mike Arnaoutis in the welterweight main event Dec. 13 at Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio (on Fox Sports 1).

“It’s great to be back in the ring, especially in front of my Southern California fans,” said Lopez, 29. “Arnaoutis is a tough guy and I know he’s going to give me a fight, but that’s what I’m looking forward to.”

Lopez last fought June 8 and was stopped in the sixth round by hard-hitting Marcos Maidana at Home Depot Center. Prior to that, Lopez challenged super welterweight champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez for his title and was stopped in the fifth round on Sept. 15, 2012 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Lopez earned the fight with Alvarez after the biggest victory of his career, a ninth-round TKO of former welterweight champion Victor Ortiz on June 23, 2012 at Staples Center. Lopez broke Ortiz’s jaw.

Lopez is 30-6 with 18 knockouts. Arnaoutis, of Queens, N.Y., is 34. He is 24-9-2 with 11 knockouts. A former contender, he has lost six of his past eight fights. But he’s talking big.

“Josesito Lopez is a true warrior and with our styles, this is going to be a fight no one will forget,” he said. “I can’t wait for the first bell to ring and I’m not going to stop swinging until my hand is raised.”

Twitter Facebook Pinterest Reddit Tumblr Email Snailmail