Luis Nunez, a 25-year-old featherweight from the Dominican Republic, is all set to make his much-awaited return to the ring on Wednesday night. After an 18-month hiatus, he will face Mexico's Leonardo Baez at the ProBox TV Events Center in Plant City, Florida. This isn't just any fight for Nunez; it's a leap back into the heart of the action, as he craves challenges.

"Luis Nunez Reclaims His Place in the Featherweight Division"

Returning to the Ring After a Long Layoff

Luis Nunez last fought on April 8, 2023, defeating then-unbeaten Christian Olivo Barreda by unanimous decision. This victory added to his unbeaten record of 19-0 (13 KOs). However, an 18-month layoff has made this comeback even more significant. He is now ready to showcase his skills and prove his worth once again.For Nunez, this isn't about taking an easy path. As his trainer Bob Santos said, "He didn't want to just any kind of gimme layup fight. He wants challenges, and on ProBox, there's no such thing as an easy fight."

The Opponent: Leonardo Baez

Leonardo Baez, 29, is no pushover. He comes off a three-year layoff but still has a solid record of 21-5 (12 KOs). His last fight against titleholder Rey Vargas went the distance, proving that he is a tough opponent. Santos emphasized, "Anybody who can go the distance with Rey Vargas is pretty solid. This guy's not coming to lay down for anybody. He doesn't give a shit about what Nunez's pedigree was or whether he won the Pan-Am Games – that doesn't mean shit to him."

Building Goodwill and Looking Ahead

Nunez's return not only marks his comeback but also provides an opportunity to build on the goodwill he has earned behind the scenes. Santos credits Nunez with opening the door for Jeison Rosario, the former unified junior middleweight champion. Rosario fought Jarrett Hurd to a draw earlier this year and is now set to fight Jesus Ramos Jnr on the David Benavidez-David Morrell undercard. All thanks to Nunez's recommendation.For Santos, Wednesday night is just the beginning. He is already eyeing titleholders and is confident that Nunez will be ready for any challenge. "After a year-and-a-half off, all these other guys would have been looking for little buttercup tune-up fights. You know that, like they would look for soft opposition – not him. We're going into ProBox TV, baby. We don't play around.""He's ready to take on any of the champions at 126," Santos added. "We're going to make our mark and show the world what he's capable of."