Talented junior flyweight Terry Washington knows a thing or two about that, having grown up in and around the streets of San Bernardino, California.

"We had some rough times growing up," Washington (6-0, 5 KOs) told The Ring. "It was trials and tribulations. I saw a lot of stuff. I always wanted to be different. I never wanted to be like people that were doing the bad stuff."

Washington, the third oldest of eight children, remained focused and kept away from gangs, drugs and the gun culture that surrounded him, feeling he had a higher purpose.

"You just walk down the street, go to where you've got to go and come back and mind your business," he said. "That's the rules of where I grew up at.

"I always knew I was going to be different. I knew I was going to be something as far as the superhero, the hometown hero."

However, boxing wasn't his first choice, he wanted to play football initially, but when he settled into boxing it gave him direction in life.

"I didn't start boxing until I was 8 years old," he said. "Before I was big on football, basketball and then I moved to the most dangerous part of San Bernardino and found my coach, Ian Franklin, and started boxing from there and gave me that father figure role model and ever since that's what he's been.

"Growing up in the gym, changed my way. In a particular part of my life, I was running around with the wrong crowd, doing stupid stuff. You come from that neighborhood, you talk like that. When I would go to the gym, I would talk like that. My coach's church, it's called Fighting Chance, Faith in God, heals troubled souls. We're surrounded by a lot of pastors and people from the church crew.

"Going in there, I didn't know how to really speak, it changed my whole perspective, [I learnt how to] approach people the respectful way, work with kids, I'm an assistant boxing coach at the gym. It just made me look at life different, calm down, don't react and do something, take a deep breath and think before you do or say something."

Washington was a promising amateur in his teenage years. He won nine national titles and fought overseas but turned to the sport's professional side after feeling let down by the powers that be as an amateur.

"I wouldn't even be in my own apartment, if I stayed amateur," he said. "Amateurs are cool but they just weren't taking care of me.

"I wanted to go to the [2024] Olympics, I did everything in my power, I won the Olympic trials, the Outstanding Boxer, out of 1600 boxers, I was the one they chose. I feel like I did everything in my power and they still didn't choose me to go to the Olympics. So, I took my talents elsewhere."

That's what he has done. So far, Washington has won all six fights, with only one opponent, the teak-tough Ricardo Astuvilca lasting the distance. The Peruvian veteran was game but lost a 10-round shutout decision.

Washington will return on Friday when facing experienced Mexican Eduardo Yudel Reyes (18-4, 8 KOs) at Thunder Studios, Long Beach.

"He's no slouch, [but I'll be] dominant like always, if the knockout comes, it comes but I'm going to win regardless," he said. "He's the problem, I'm the solution. Whatever he brings to the table, I'm going to figure it out. I've got a great game plan for him."

The 21-year-old southpaw hopes to quickly land himself a title shot before his 5-foot-7 frame outgrows 108 pounds.

"Oh, for sure, I'm already pretty close to going up," he said. "It happens to every athlete. That's my goal, I'm going to do whatever I've got to do to make that weight to get the title.

"I've probably got a year and then we move on to 112. With my frame and height, I should probably end up at 130/135."

The youngster knows it won't be easy and that everyone has their own battles, but is determined to succeed not just for himself and his family but his hometown.

"I'm San Bernardino's champ," he proclaimed. "I feel like they're all depending on me as far as being this positive hope in our city because when you go to San Bernardino, there ain't nothing positive about it."