Nonito Donaire and Felix Verdejo to make returns on Dec. 11

Unbeaten lightweight prospect Felix Verdejo and former titlist Nonito Donaire will be back at it on December 11 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Top Rank announced their scheduled returns yesterday with an official press conference to be held today to formally announce the card.

Donaire (35-3, 23 knockouts) will be taking on Cesar Juarez (17-3, 13 KOs) in a 12-round bout while Verdejo (18-0, 13 KOs) will go up against Josenilson Dos Santos (27-3, 17 KOs) in a scheduled 10-rounder. Both fights will be aired live on truTV's MetroPCS Friday Night Knockout.

Donaire is looking for a second lease on his boxing life since dropping back down to 122lbs after getting thumped by Nicholas Walters last year. Most recently, Donaire dropped Anthony Settoul twice in the first round en route to a second round stoppage this past July.

On the other hand, lightweight super-prospect Felix Verdejo seems to have all the makings of another Puerto Rican star, but he just needs his left hand to hold up. Verdejo underwent surgery on the hand over the summer to remove bone spurs and had subsequently been given a clean bill of health, but he began experiencing significant pain in the hand again leading up an Oct. 31st fight with Dos Santos, which required him to pull out and postpone the fight. If his hand holds up during training, he should be good to go next month.