Johnathan Gonzalez looked like the type of hotshot prospect that promoters dreamed of. He was explosive, fast, and possessed an underrated IQ. His seemingly decent potential, however, evaporated once he spent an extended period behind bars.

Following 10 years away from the game, Gonzalez picked up two quick wins. Those victories have now propelled him into a showdown against Edgar Berlanga this Saturday night.

Gonzalez (20-0-1, 16 KOs) knows that the opinions of him aren’t malleable. Considering his physique and protracted stint away, few are giving him a chance. Ultimately, none of that bothers him, as long as his small circle has their faith in him, that’s all that matters.

“I’m about making up for lost time in boxing,” said Gonzalez during the final press conference. “I still feel good, I still feel physically good. My team believes in me.”

Self-belief is a valuable tool but it won’t get fans on his bandwagon for the most part. If Gonzalez wants the support of his naysayers, he’ll have to come through in a major way.

For Berlanga, he walks around like a man who knows he’s destined for greatness. A few months prior, had he taken care of business against Canelo Alvarez, he would’ve been on top of the boxing world.

Regardless of suffering his first defeat, Berlanga promises to take over the sport he grew up loving. That mission starts on Saturday night.

Gonzalez, as he prepares to go to war, looks for the closest mirror he can find. Once he locates it, he begins looking for certain phrases. Although he knows it isn’t there, he’s searching for the word “pushover” that must be written on his forehead.

Reaching the final bell would be a shock to most but winning would be a jaw-dropping moment. This Saturday night, nevertheless, he can’t wait to see the expression on everyone’s faces when he gets the job done.

“This is a great opportunity for my career,” continued Gonzalez. “If people believe that it’s just a stepping stone then that’s boxing but it’s about showing what we can do.”