Two-division world champion Rey Vargas will snap 17-month spell away from the ring due to an undisclosed injury that required surgery, when he returns to defend his WBC featherweight title against Carlos Castro on a PBC show.

The date wasn't specified, but it will likely be on the Gervonta Davis-Lamont Roach rematch undercard on Aug. 16.

The last time Vargas was seen, he successfully defended his WBC 126-pound title with a draw against Nick Ball in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in March 2024.

Vargas claimed the title when he bested Mark Magsayo in July 2022. However, when he faced O'Shaquie Foster (L UD 12) for the vacant WBC junior lightweight title, that created an opening for Brandon Figueroa to meet Magsayo for the interim title. Figueroa picked up the designation with a 12-round unanimous decision and defended it against Jessie Magdaleno in nine rounds.

Vargas was moved to champion in recess and Figueroa was promoted to full champion, but he subsequently lost the title to Stephen Fulton. Now, Fulton is going to move up to 130 pounds to face Foster in August.

Vargas is reactivating his championship status and will face Castro. Meanwhile, Bruce Carrington, the WBC No. 1, and Mateus Heita, No. 12, will contest the interim title at Madison Square Garden on July 26.

Vargas (36-1-1, 22 KOs) won the WBC 122-pound title when he outboxed Gavin McDonnell (MD 12). The tall Mexican made five defenses of the title, notably beating Ronnie Rios (UD 12), Azat Hovhannisyan (UD 12) and Tomoki Kameda (UD 12). However, injuries and COVID slowed his activity. He fought just once in three years but bounced back to outbox Magsayo (SD 12) for the WBC title.

The 34-year-old headed to 130 pounds to try to become a three-weight world titleholder when he was outboxed by Foster. He returned to 126 and drew with Ball.

Castro (30-3, 14 KOs) turned professional as a teenager and notched 27 consecutive wins to earn a fight with Luis Nery. Despite a strong showing, he dropped a 10-round split decision.

That was enough for him to face Figueroa, who stopped him in six rounds. The Phoenix, Arizona, resident reeled off three wins to get a fight with Fulton, who narrowly beat him by 10-round split decision. Castro is ranked fifth by the WBC.