By Jake Donovan

From the moment his hand was raised in victory in a minor upset win over Paul Delgado earlier this summer, Luis Galarza expected his phone to ring non-stop.

“I had a feeling someone would want me for a big fight in December,” Galarza (17-2, 13KO) recalled, while fielding several offers before agreeing to terms for Saturday night’s showdown in Atlantic City with unbeaten contender Kell Brook.

The fight serves as the chief support to the Showtime Super Six World Boxing Classic finals between Andre Ward and Carl Froch. While their 10-round welterweight bout won’t make the live feed for Showtime, it will be carried on Sky Sports in the United Kingdom.

Galarza was tabbed as the opponent of choice for Brook’s U.S. debut, with the suggestion that the Brit shines in a stay busy fight while eyeing a title shot in 2012. So goes the life of the transplanted Puerto Rican, whose family relocated to middle Tennessee more than a decade ago.

There is little to no quality boxing to be found in the mid-South region, and even fewer quality boxers. Galarza has always strove to separate himself from the garden variety journeymen that are far too often to be found in the area, at one point in his career relocating to Houston with the goal of hooking up with renowned trainer Ronnie Shields.

The move didn’t quite work out as planned as Shields already had a full plate, but served its purpose for Galarza, who views his career with a renewed purpose. What’s missing are the wins to suggest that he’s anything more than just an opponent, though steps are being taken to rectify that.

The win over Delgado came three months after their fight was originally scheduled. The bout was first slated to take place in April, only for Delgado to show up heavy, refusing to lose weight or part with any of his purse as compensation. Galarza was sent home with a full paycheck, but nothing on his record to show for it.

Sweet redemption came three months later when the fight was rescheduled, with Galarza overcoming a bone-deep cut midway through the fight to finish strong and take a well-deserved split decision.

Where Delgado’s handlers went wrong was in believing they were just cherry picking another ill-prepared mid-South journeyman. Galarza had previously been training for a televised bout with Mark Jason Melligen, only to have to pull out due to an untimely battle with the flu.

The payday against Delgado was far less in comparison, but had nothing to do with why he accepted the fight and in his opponent’s adopted hometown of Atlanta.

“I needed the opportunity, just to prove to myself that I can beat good fighters,” Galarza admitted, a reference to a resume filled with the usual suspects in regards to boxing in his corner of the world. “It was a great experience for me, and came at the right time in my career.”

So, too, has tonight’s fight, though you wouldn’t know that he was even on the bill if you listen close enough to any pre-fight discussion. Any talk of the showdown has focused solely on Brook (25-0, 17KO), not even of the bout itself but what lies in store for the undefeated British contender.

“I want to have a big profile fight in the middle of next year. We’re going to definitely fight for a world title in 2012,” Brook told Boxingscene’s David Greisman moments after jumping off the scale during Friday’s weigh-in. The statement came in a tone suggestive that tonight’s fight is already a foregone conclusion, merely a placeholder for a 2012 campaign he believes is destined for a title run.
 
If there’s any focus on this bout in Brook’s mind, it’s his wanting to steal the show from his countryman Froch in the evening’s far more celebrated bout. The goal is to make a big splash in the United States before eyeing the best means towards a welterweight title shot next year.

Galarza’s mission for Saturday night is far more focused on the present than the future. He let it be known during Friday’s weigh-in, jawing at Brook in English and Spanish while the two were on stage for the obligatory stare down. Brook’s goal was to get inside his opponent’s head, but Galarza – who turns 30 next month – has no intention of following the script and serve as the Brit’s doormat.

“I know he’s looking past me. But what he doesn’t realize is that I was preparing for a fight like this, and know what to expect (tonight).”

Without giving away too much of his game plan, Galarza spotted enough chinks in the armor to figure out how to make his presence felt at the very least.

“I’m going to make him fight,” Galarza says matter-of-factly. “He’s the one looking at a future that includes a title shot and big opportunities. I’m a guy who’s had two amateur fights and no experience on the world class level. I have nothing to lose and everything to gain in this fight.

“My plan… is to gain everything by the end of the night.”

Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of Boxingscene.com. Follow Jake on Twitter at twitter.com/JakeNDaBox or submit questions/comments to JakeNDaBox@gmail.com