He lost his first three fights as a 13-year-old in his hometown of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Yet those early setbacks ultimately didn't deter Pagan, who would later become a three-time Golden Gloves winner in his state.

"It just showed me my mental resilience," Pagan told The Ring. "It was tough losing the third fight, but after that, I was like, 'I'm going to stick with it,' and that's what I did."

13 years later, he headlines among home comforts when facing Bryan Jimenez in a 10-round lightweight bout Tuesday night at GLC Live on a card DAZN will stream exclusively worldwide.

It's his second headline billing for Salita Promotions, but the first in Grand Rapids.

"My excitement is through the roof," Pagan said. "Fighting twice in Puerto Rico was a very special experience, but I feel like this one's even more personal, because these are my real stomping grounds. Growing up here, fighting here all my amateur career, it's truly going to be a special moment in my career."

Pagan (14-0, 5 KOs) enters this contest after a ninth-round stoppage of Maliek Montgomery in San Juan, Puerto Rico on October 23. The 26-year-old took control there early, connecting with a punch late in round two giving Montgomery a nasty gash over his left eye, which bled profusely and was checked thrice by a ringside doctor.

He outboxed the hard-charging Montgomery (20-2, 18 KOs) and connected with an uppercut to Montgomery's left eye, leading to referee Ramon Pena halting the bout. The 5-foot-10 Pagan is ranked No. 11 by the WBO in the 135-pound division. Any hopes of moving closer to a world title shot will depend on how he performs against Jimenez (18-2, 10 KOs). The 28-year-old Nicaraguan last outpointed Israel Lopez over 10 rounds in November. "He's very tough," Pagan said in previewing the task ahead. "He's very rugged. I know he's coming in fully prepared for this, and we're preparing for the best Bryan Jimenez."

Should Pagan beat Jimenez, it'll mean even more to have done so in the town where he grew up.

"It means everything to me," Pagan continued. "This is what I dreamed about since first becoming a pro. Ever since I first started boxing, I dreamed of headlining in Grand Rapids for all my fans, family, friends, for everybody to come out, watch me fight and now it's happening. I'm going to seize this moment."