Manuel “Tino” Avila vs. Rene Alvarado is the consummate crossroads bout.

Avila is a rising young prospect who has passed every test thus far in his career, while Alvarado has stumbled a bit in recent fights.

No one really knows if Alvarado could return to the contender status he enjoyed less than two years ago but a win over Avila could open many doors.

Both square off tonight at the Belasco Theater in Los Angeles. The 10-round bout will top a Golden Boy Promotions card and air live on Estrella TV, beginning at 10 p.m. ET/ 7 p.m. PT.

RingTVLive.com will air preliminary action, beginning at 5:15 p.m. local time.

Avila (19-0, 8 knockouts) made his mark as a prospect by defeating two former title challengers. In May of 2014, Avila knocked David De La Mora out in the second round. On Aug. 8, Avila stopped Yoandris Salinas after the sixth round when Salinas was unable to continue due to a hand injury.

The 23-year-old Avila fought for the first time as a full-fledged featherweight in his last bout on Oct. 24, defeating veteran Jose Angel Beranza by unanimous decision over eight rounds.

The Vallejo, California native will face a stern test on paper in Alvarado, who has lost four of his last seven fights, three of them to Rocky Juarez, Eric Hunter and Joseph Diaz Jr.

According to Golden Boy Promotions matchmaker Robert Diaz, the fight should mean a lot to both fighters.

“Tino Avila is going up to a new division (featherweight),” said Diaz. “The kid keeps growing and this is first test at 126. It’s not an easy task and it’s a very tough fight. If Rene Alvarado shows up, Tino has to be at 100 percent. Tino is a sharpshooter and doesn’t waste punches. He’s a very fun fighter to watch.

“Rene Alvarado is a tough, durable opponent. When a fighter loses, they (sometimes) come back stronger, hungrier. When a fighter loses by knockout, sometimes they don’t come back. He understands that he’s an opponent on the B-side and he has to come back and show people why he should be at this level.”

In the eight round co-feature, junior welterweight Gilberto Gonzalez returns to the ring from a hand injury to fight Luis Arceo. Gonzalez enters tonight’s fight having won his last seven bouts in a row, while Arceo has lost his three straight.

Opening the “Boxeo Estelar” broadcast is a six-round welterweight bout between Oscar Torres and Marquis Taylor.

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