For Jamar Pemberton, the Caribe Royale in Orlando, Florida, isn’t just a venue – it’s where he learned his toughest lesson as a professional.

Pemberton, a 21-year-old middleweight from St. Louis, will return to the site of his first career defeat on Friday, determined to turn the page against another undefeated opponent, Khalil Mitchell.

The bout will be televised on DAZN.

“This feels like a redemption shot for me,” Pemberton said. “That loss – my first one – happened right here, on an MVP card, against a tall, undefeated fighter just like this. I had my zero on the line, and so did he.”

Pemberton, 7-1 (5 KOs), has built his career on a foundation of sharp boxing skills and an impressive amateur resume. A 2019 Junior Olympics champion and a top-five national amateur for much of his youth, Pemberton has been boxing since the age of 10. However, his perfect professional record came to an abrupt end in his fifth fight, when Bryce Henry handed him his first loss in the same ring in which he will fight Friday.

“Since I was a kid, this is all I wanted to do with my life,” Pemberton said. “Genuinely, a loss is not going to stop me from wanting to box. I just get back to the drawing board and back in there. Boxing is all I want to do with my life, so that one little loss is definitely not going to knock me off my trajectory.”

Pemberton’s dedication to his craft led him to relocate to Las Vegas, where he trains with Chris Ben-Tchavtchavadze. There, he has honed his skills alongside some of the sport’s top fighters.

“Oh, man, this camp’s been really good,” Pemberton said. “I’ve been getting a lot of high-level work out here in Vegas. I’ve been bouncing around gyms like Salas’, Top Rank and others, getting top sparring to prepare for the 13th. I really hope this kid trained hard because I’m bringing it all.”

Mitchell, 4-0 (2 KOs), a 28-year-old from Chattanooga, Tennessee, hasn’t fought in over a year and a half, making Friday’s bout a significant step up in both competition and activity. Despite Mitchell’s layoff, Pembleton refuses to take his opponent lightly.

Pemberton’s journey from St. Louis to Las Vegas reflects his commitment to growth and ambition. After being scouted at an amateur fight, he signed with Victory Sports and later moved to Vegas under the guidance of his current trainer.

“Mike Leanardi noticed me after I fought Obed Bartee-El in the 2021 Golden Gloves, and that changed everything,” Pemberton said. “Mike moved me out here to Vegas, and I’ve been working with Chris ever since. We’ve been jamming since I was 18.”

Now, as Pemberton prepares for fight night, he’s focused on using the lessons from his past to fuel a strong finish to the year.

“I’m just coming to bring it all,” Pemberton said. “Genuinely, a tall, left-handed sharpshooter, man.”

Lucas Ketelle is a proud member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and author of “Inside The Ropes of Boxing” (available on Amazon). Contact him on X @LukieBoxing.