“I stood on the mountains [of Big Bear]. I didn’t go home at all. That’s the sacrifice. You got a good solid 10 years. Take advantage of it. It goes so fast. Just yesterday I was 13.” 

Conwell, 27, soaked up the lesson. 

In Perez, he confronts his first scheduled 12-round fight and meets his first ranked opponent. And while rival promoters Premier Boxing Champions and Top Rank seek to craft a deal for WBO/WBC champion Sebastian Fundora to meet unbeaten No. 1 contender Xander Zayas next, any break down in talks opens the door for a victorious Conwell to land a title shot.

Fundora attended Thursday’s event in the Gaslamp Quarter of San Diego to support his undisputed women’s flyweight champion sister, Gabriela Fundora, and Conwell snapped a photo with him, revealing their notable height difference.

“There’s a possibility I can get a title shot, and [Saturday’s bout] keeps my face out there,” Conwell said. “As far as activity, they’ve been holding their promise and I think it’ll be just bigger names and bigger fights from here. “My fights have shown I’ve been getting more comfortable and showing more. My early fights, I was tense. Now, I’m chill in the ring. You can see the things I’m setting up and doing. Those are big improvements since when I first joined Golden Boy, including using my feet and speed.”

De La Hoya told BoxingScene he feels he owes it to talented fighters to ensure they remain active.

“Saturday night will be very telling,” De La Hoya said. “The world will see who Charles is, what he’s all about. Those are the steps we know how to take.”

Conwell, who overcame the trauma of his 2019 opponent Patrick Day dying from injuries suffered in their bout, has maintained impressive power, winning five of his past six bouts by knockout or TKO.

“It feels good, like a long time coming,” Conwell said. “I feel like I’m a veteran in my career [because] all the things that have happened in my career make me more hungry, more grateful, more appreciative. I’m happy about that.

“I’m willing to fight anyone at anytime.”

Newly engaged to Shaquona Pearsall on December 31, Conwell has a son due to be born by early August to join two sisters.

In addition to being fit, Conwell emphasized his assets as “being coachable, adaptable, strong-minded, strong-willed … I have a little of everything.”