By Jake Donovan

Hugo Cazares returns to the ring for the first time since losing his junior flyweight crown, when he takes on veteran Kermin Guardia in a 10-round flyweight bout Friday night in Cicero, IL. The bout serves as the main even for this week's edition of Telefutura's Solo Boxeo Tecate series, which returns to Cicero Stadium for the first time in 2008.

Cicero Stadium has become a Telefutura show, playing host to 8 telecasts in 2007. Tonight's show will be the first time it or the greater Chicago area is blessed with the presence of Cazares, pound-for-pound one of the biggest punchers in the sport today.

The switch-hitting Cazares  (25-4-1, 19KO) was last seen on the business end of a boxing lesson at the hands of undefeated Ivan Calderon, last summer in Puerto Rico. It was a classic puncher vs. boxer matchup, with Calderon sprinting out to a huge lead before Cazares was able to catch up and floor the Puerto Rican in the 8 th round of their scheduled twelve. Calderon recovered, and kept it strictly boxing for the remainder of the bout, allowing Cazares to score points late but not enough to leave Puerto Rico with his crown still intact, as the Mexican dropped a split decision for his first loss in nearly eight years, snapping a 16-fight win streak.

Cazares had a rematch clause in his contract, though not an immediate one, allowing both to accept optional assignments in the interim. What Cazares hopes to rediscover between now and then is what elevated him to the top in the first place.

The answer is simple: two-fisted power. But a punch alone doesn't get you the glory; it's the ability to set up your money punch that helps close the deal.

Such ability was readily available in Cazares' arsenal, overcoming a rocky career start (9-3-1 through the first three years as a pro) to tear through the junior flyweight division. Of his 16 straight wins from 2000 to 2007, 13 ended inside the distance, a ratio almost unheard of in the lower weight divisions.

Unfortunately, too much focus was wasted on preserving his knockout streak, as his handlers began dumbing down his competition. As a result, Cazares would go the way of oh so many noted punchers before him: falling in love with his power, only to be at a loss when one punch wasn't enough.

With the loss to Calderon, Team Cazares realized it would take more than just your garden-variety tune-up to get back on track. Touch-and-fall opposition need not apply, as there's more to be learned even from looking mediocre against exceptional opposition than looking exceptional against mediocre opposition.

Enter Kermin Guardia, a 17-year veteran who often falls short when matched against the best, but never goes away quietly. That he's still a player after all of these years is a testament to the Colombian's skillset.

Like Calderon, Guardia (37-7-1 NC, 21KO) is a slick southpaw who knows his way around the ring, is always in peak physical condition and, more importantly when matched against a lights out puncher like Cazares, rarely touches the canvas. The 38-year old Colombian has only been stopped twice in 45 fights, with his last six fights all going the distance.

While Guardia comes with solid credentials, all good things must come to an end. He enters the fight having lost his last bout, and five of his last seven, a clear indication that he is in the twilight of his career.

Simply put, it's Cazares' fight to lose, which should translate into a decisive win and an eventual return go with Calderon.

Tonight's show is presented by Golden Boy Promotions and 8 Count Productions. Tickets for THE MONTH OF THE KINGS are available in advance by calling the 8 Count Productions offices at 312-226-5800. Cicero Stadium is located at 1909 S. Laramie, just minutes from the Eisenhower and Stevenson Expressways. Doors for this event will open at 5:30pm with the first bell at 6:30pm.

Jake Donovan is a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and the Tennessee Boxing Advisory Board. His feature column runs every Tuesday, and his Prospect of the Week series runs every Thursday. Jake is also BoxingScene's official Telefutura correspondent.

Please feel free to submit any comments or questions to Jake at JakeNDaBox@gmail.com