By Jake Donovan

Frank De Alba will never forget his pro debut for a number of reasons. He suffered a four-round defeat to a previously winless opponent, but the loss column is not the place he least wishes to return.

The bout was staged at Carcel 1072, a maximum security facility in Bayamon, Puerto Rico. It wasn’t just the site of his pro debut, but his residence over a three-year stretch for possession of illegal firearms during a youth misspent in his native Puerto Rico.

“I was immature and reckless as a kid,” De Alba recalled to BoxingScene.com of his teenage years. “I was involved in drugs and busted for carrying a firearm. I was sprung on bail and then on the run.”

A move to Reading, Pennsylvania was made with the intention of turning his life around, even if the manner in which he arrived was made in poor judgment. Still, it provided De Alba (17-1-2, 6KOs) with the foundation to become the fighter that he is today, beginning with the first time he walked through the doors of KING’s Gym.

The gym name is not meant as royalty, but an acronym for the service it provides – Kids In Need of Guidance. De Alba was 20 years old but still a kid in terms of the mental development required to transition to manhood.

“Marshall Kauffman was one of the first boxing people I met,” the 28-year old boxer recalls of his first trainer and now his local promoter. “I wanted a hobby and fell in love with the sport but didn’t really know anything about technique. I showed Marshall what I knew; he taught me how to throw my first punch the right way.”

The lesson carried over to 10 straight amateur wins in as many fights before being busted by authorities and eventually dispatched back to his native Puerto Rico to serve out his prison sentence. De Alba did his time and has since moved on from the experience as well as his lone ring defeat.

“I didn't take boxing seriously,” De Alba says of his losing effort nearly four years ago. “Once I tasted defeat, I didn't like the feeling. Once I took it serious and dedicated, thank God I haven't lost since.”

He is now unbeaten in his past 19 starts heading into a crossroads bout with regional rival, unbeaten super featherweight prospect Omar Douglas. The bout airs live Tuesday evening on Fox Sports 1 from Sands Bethlehem in Bethlehem, Penn., headlining the 46th and final entry of the year for the Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) series.

While year one of PBC comes to a close, Tuesday’s show represents yet another fresh start for the 28-year old southpaw.

“I did three years in jail and won’t ever forget a single day of it,” De Alba notes. “That doesn’t mean I can’t still leave it in the past. Once I came out, I rededicated my life. It’s been a 180° turnaround for me ever since. I’m married with two kids and love every day spent with my family. Boxing helps provide a living, but has also shaped me into the man I've become. I can't imagine a life without boxing.”

With it, he now gets to perform in front of a live audience. Appearing in a televised headliner doesn’t add any pressure, especially given the expectations for the fight.

“Omar is undefeated, he’s favored to win. I’m the underdog, that alone takes pressure off the fight for me,” De Alba notes. “I’ve been ready for this fight. We were supposed to fight in August, but it’s happening the right way and at the right time. He has his fans from (Wilmington, Delaware), I have my fans. We’re both about an hour away from where the fight takes place, so it should be a great fight night environment.”

Both fighters are familiar enough with one another to not expect anything less than the toughest challenge of their respective careers. De Alba recognizes this, believing that the fight will come down to who will be first to not only carry out their strategy, but to force the other to a predictable state.

“He's one-dimensional, he comes forward,” De Alba believes. “Maybe he comes at me with a different look to start the fight. Everyone has the ability to do anything. When the game plan goes south, though, they go back to their old habits.

“If you see the PBC shows, it's prospects versus prospects, no pushovers on this level. I know what I’m up against. I just hope (Douglas) knows as well.”

Regardless, De Alba learned long ago that his own actions control his own fate. It may have taken him to a dark place, but also provided the opportunity for redemption and redirection to where he is today.

The next step is to post a win that will take his career – and life – to new heights.

“If everything goes well, I honestly think the sky's the limit,” believes De Alba, who has aspirations of entering the super featherweight title mix by this time next year. “A lot of doors will open.”

It began with the gym door that changed his life – and then the jail cell door opening for the last time upon providing a freedom he continues to cherish.

Jake Donovan is the managing editor of BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox