Carlos Cuadras is ready to take the first step back towards another title run.

The former WBC junior bantamweight titlist from Mexico City was a late addition to Friday’s ESPN Knockout show in Ciudad Nezahualcóyotl, Mexico. Cuadras (42-5-1, 28 knockouts) will face countryman John Daniel Ramirez (16-8, 9 KOs) in a scheduled eight-round contest.

The fight ends a 55-week ring absence for Cuadras, who missed most of 2024 due to injury and subsequent surgery.

“I’m looking forward to getting back in the mix,” Cuadras told The Ring. “First step is getting a win, and then hopefully remaining active after that.”

Cuadras has won three in a row, including a 12-round decision over Pedro Guevara (42-5-1, 22 KOs), The Ring No. 9 junior bantamweight, last Nov. 17 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. It came at the tail end of the WBC convention, with its interim junior bantamweight title at stake.

The glory was short-lived, however. Cuadras was due to defend versus Andrew Moloney on May 12 in Perth, Australia. He was forced to withdraw after he suffered a ruptured Achilles which required surgery.

Guevara replaced Cuadras, and wound up claiming the vacant interim WBC title in a win over Moloney.

Adding insult to Cuadras’ literal injury, Guevara went on to challenge The Ring/full WBC champ Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez (21-0, 14 KOs), who won via third-round knockout on Nov. 9 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Cuadras previously lost a twelve-round, unanimous decision to Rodriguez in their Feb. 2022 vacant WBC 115-pound title fight. A second shot at a lasting impression was sought by the resurgent Cuadras, who can now only hope to continue to win and remain in the mix in 2025.

“I will be ready for whatever opportunity comes my way,” Cuadras promised.

Cuadras reigned as WBC junior bantamweight titlist from May 2014 through his Sept. 2016 unanimous decision defeat to Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez (52-4, 42 KOs).