As a fledgling professional, Anthony Ogogo would normally expect to be on a whistle-stop tour of the country’s leisure centres and small halls.
Fighting in front of a handful of people against useful but limited journeymen is the raison detre of any up-and-coming boxer.
But instead, Ogogo will realise one of his long-term ambitions in just his fourth bout – fighting in Las Vegas on Floyd Mayweather Jnr’s undercard.
The Olympic bronze medalist will continue his ring education at the MGM Grand when Mayweather clashes with fellow unbeaten star Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez on September 14.
‘The next time you see me out will be on the massive Floyd Mayweather undercard,’ Ogogo confirmed to Sportsmail. ‘Just to be on that, a small time kid from East Anglia, is quite groundbreaking in itself.
‘Being around Floyd and his camp and taking it all in will hold me in good stead for when I get to that level.
‘This is why I signed for Golden Boy, for these opportunities. I didn’t want to stay in the UK, I wanted these life experiences.
‘Most people when they turn pro fight in leisure centres but every time I’ve boxed it’s been in front of a big crowd.
‘I’ll go to Vegas and be inspired, seeing the massive hullabaloo around Floyd and Canelo and seeing what they’re doing; I’ll just think: “I want some of this”.
‘And I don’t want it to be in six years time, I want it to be in three years time. I’ll work doubly hard to make sure I am at that level and when I am, that it’s not a flash in the pan.’
Ogogo, 24, continued his seamless transition into the paid ranks with a fifth-round stoppage of the durable Gary Boulden at Craven Park in Hull.
And he admitted he couldn’t be happier with how the first few months of his professional career have panned out.
‘I’m really pleased,’ he added. ‘I’ve been very spoiled; I’ve had three fights on massive cards.
‘Staying amateur would have been the easy option, I wanted a challenge and didn’t want to rest on my laurels.’
After stopping Kieron Gray in stunning style in the second round of his debut in April, he was taken the six-round distance by Edgar Perez the following month.
‘My second one in Atlantic City was really, really good; on a double world title bill with a packed card in a really prestigious hall,’ Ogogo said.
‘It went to plan, went the whole six rounds. It was good to go the distance because the first one was so quick I didn’t really know what it was about.
‘Then my last one in front of 6,500 fans in an outdoor stadium, I got a fifth round TKO [against Gary Boulden] so I can’t complain.
‘Most people in their third fight don’t fight the former Southern Area champion; he took the British and Commonwealth champion Billy Joe Saunders the whole 10 rounds.
‘I’m loving being a professional boxer, that’s for sure!’
A year on from the London 2012 Olympics, Ogogo’s former team-mates Thomas Stalker, Luke Campbell and Anthony Joshua have joined him in shedding their vests and headguards.
And Ogogo believes that proves boxing is the perfect sport to lead the legacy.
‘I’m very biased but boxing is the best sport,’ he said. ‘Anyone can do it; you just need yourself and a pair of trainers.
‘It teaches you so many life skills and it’s fun at the end of the day, you don’t have to do it to a competitive level.
‘I took a girl on the pads and she loved it and I told her she has to carry this on because she’s really good. She said she would so if she comes back then this has already worked.’
