Joseph Diaz Jr to face Victor Terrazas on February 22

Joseph “JoJo” Diaz Jr will return to action on February 22, when he headlines a Golden Boy on ESPN card from Fantasy Springs in Indio, California, taking on veteran and former world titleholder Victor Terrazas in the night’s main event.

Diaz (25-0, 13 KO) fought twice in 2017, beating Manuel “Tino” Avila on the Canelo-Chavez card in May, then Rafael Rivera on the Canelo-GGG card in September. So he had a couple of big fight placements for exposure last year, and in the process, kept himself moving up the ladder toward a world title shot.

The 25-year-old former Olympian isn’t quite taking that leap yet. Terrazas (38-4-2, 21 KO) is frankly something of a sideways step from where Diaz has been, and that’s at best.

Terrazas, now 34, won a controversial split decision over Cristian Mijares back in 2013 to claim the WBC super bantamweight title, but was knocked out in three rounds by Leo Santa Cruz in his first defense, coming four months later that same year.

Following the loss to Santa Cruz, Terrazas didn’t fight again until 2016, and he’s gone 1-1-1 since coming back, winning his first fight, getting knocked out in two by Eduardo Hernandez, and then fighting to a technical draw with Andoni Gago last time out.

“I look forward to making my 2018 debut,” said Diaz. “And what better way than by facing a tough former world champion in Victor Terrazas! I will remind everyone why I deserve a world title shot by headlining this card exciting fashion.”

“I have faced great fighters in my career,” said Terrazas. ”And this fight against Joseph Diaz, Jr. will not be an exception. I think that my experience will be very important, and I have no doubts that I will leave with my hand raised.”

Junior welterweight prospect Vergil Ortiz Jr (8-0, 8 KO) will be in the televised co-feature, an eight-round fight. Also in action will be prospects Christian Gonzalez, Manny Robles III, Edgar Valerio, Hector Tanajara Jr, and Genaro Gamez.