Rising junior lightweight Miguel Esparza will kick off his 2025 campaign when he faces Shun Sekine on Televisa in the main event at the Gimnasio Universitario UACJ, Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, on Friday.

Esparza, who will return to fight in front of his hometown fans for the first time in three starts, has prepared diligently for his opponent.

"It is a great challenge," Esparza (17-0, 12 knockouts) told The Ring through promoter Oswaldo Kuchle. "We have worked to adapt to the style he has from the left-handed guard, although we know that the Japanese are brave and strong fighters, my coaches (the Montiel family) placed a lot of emphasis on working with left-handed sparring [partners] since they have faced many Japanese in title fights."

The 24-year-old, who trains in Los Mochis (1200 kilometers from Ciudad Juárez), expects the his opponent to provide him with a stern test.

"It is a very difficult rival but I will have the support of the people of Juárez who are always there unconditionally," he said proudly.

"I have had three tough fights and this is no exception, it is a tough fight in which I am not overconfident and have all my concentration, physical condition, strength and intelligence will be the key against a fighter with a great record, I have to counterpunch better and faster than him."

Kuchle, who has previously guided the likes of Jhonny Gonzalez, Carlos Cuadras and Adrian Hernandez and to world titles, believes Esparza may be the next one off the conveyor belt.

"He is a fighter with great abilities, who has a tremendous punch and in whom we see enormous potential as a fighter," said the promoter. "He has the talent and the mentality to take on the world and we are going to help him achieve it.

"He has managed to improve in each fight and we like how he is fulfilling that process of becoming a future world champion."

However, before he can do that Kuchle appreciates he has work to do.

"First he has to overcome this fight, which is very difficult," said Kuchle. "He has expressed his desire about winning a WBC title and positioning himself in the world rankings and although the road is still very long, we trust in Miguel and we are going to bet heavily on him to becoming another champion to emerge from the Latin KO Promotions hotbed."

Sekine (12-1-1, 10 KOs) has been a professional since November 2018. The Japanese fighter won his first four outings before being held to a draw by Atsuyuki Sato (D 6) but got the better of his countryman in their rematch scoring a six-round majority decision.

The 27-year-old was beaten by Soreike Taichi (TD 4) but has returned with seven wins, all inside the distance.

On the undercard, Diana Fernandez will face Terumi Nuki and the Bonilla brothers, Andrey and Ary, are also tabbed for action.