By Thomas Gerbasi

The lofty ambitions of light heavyweight prospect Marcus Browne include a world championship and perhaps going down in the history books as one of the greats. But as far as immediate goals for the Staten Islander, he just wants to show fans in Brooklyn’s Barclays Center just how far he’s come since the last time they saw him last August.

“I want to show my maturity, my growth, and my patience in the ring,” said Browne, who faces Aaron Pryor Jr. on the Danny Garcia-Lamont Peterson undercard this Saturday. “That’s the most important part and that’s what I want to show on Saturday.”

When your last three fights have ended in the first round with an average time of 68 seconds, patience isn’t the first thing that pops into your head when you think of Browne. Of course, that’s a good problem to have, but the 24-year-old, who has already shown plenty of maturity in and out of the ring, knows that along the way you will run into some folks that just don’t want to go away.

“Sometimes you’ve got to be in there for a long time, so you can’t get bored and can’t get complacent,” he said. “You’ve got to be able to switch things up and focus on the game plan and stick to it.”

The 36-year-old Pryor (19-7-1) won’t be expected to beat Browne, but in his seven losses, the only time the Cincinnati native has been stopped was by current world beltholder Adonis Stevenson back in 2011, a fact not lost on the 2012 U.S. Olympian.

“That’s the thing,” he said. “This guy’s not someone who gets knocked out, so you gotta expect to go rounds and be in a scenario that you’ve never been in before and you’ve got to take care of business.”

Browne has done that throughout his pro career thus far, winning all 13 of his bouts, 10 by knockout. Like any prospect, he’s faced a wide variety of opposition, and in all instances he’s done what’s been expected. So the way he sees it, everything is happening the way it should.

“When they put a guy in front of me and I take care of business, of course things are going to plan,” he said. “I’ve still got my “0” and that’s the most important thing. And with this guy, it’s the same thing. Go in there, do what I have to do and make it look good. I don’t want to just win. A lot of guys just win fights and they don’t leave a lasting impression on people. I want to win and do it in spectacular fashion.”

Pryor, despite his record, may be his stiffest test to date when you consider that the veteran has been rounds with the aforementioned Stevenson, along with the likes of Edwin Rodriguez, Librado Andrade and Thomas Oosthuizen. He’s also 3-0-1 in his last four, albeit against lesser opposition, but wins have a way of boosting confidence, no matter who they’re against.

That’s a good thing for a veteran. Yet when a prospect puts together a bunch of wins, the idea of being untouchable can arise, and that’s a bad thing. Luckily, Browne is aware of such pitfalls, and more importantly, his longtime coach Gary Stark Sr. is even more aware.

“He (Stark) has always been that guy to keep me grounded and keep me focused on the bigger and better things,” Browne said. “I know how it is in the boxing world and I’m nowhere close to where I want to be, and that alone keeps me grounded. My mom still has to get up and work, and the day my mom gets up and I can tell her she don’t have to work again, then I may get a big head. (Laughs) But even then, we still gotta keep focused because there’s always someone coming up the ladder.”

There are even those on the side of that ladder who can shake it up and bring a prospect crashing down. I ask Browne if he’s been tested yet as a pro.

“Not necessarily,” he said. “But we’re gonna be ready for it when it comes, and I’m ready for it right now. I’m in the best shape of my life, so if Aaron Pryor wants to come test me, tell him to come test me.”

I then ask him if Lamont Williams was a test, referring to the awkward California journeyman who gave Browne fits at times in their September 2013 bout before the New Yorker pulled away for a decision win.

Browne laughs.

“He wasn’t a test. He was just there and annoying. But I’m gonna show I’ve matured from fights like that and do it come Saturday.”

That’s all you can ask at this point. But Browne, admirably, wants more in 2015.

“I want to step into the hot prospect role, and I do it by starting this Saturday. I’m gonna do it this year.”

Isn’t he already a hot prospect though?

He laughs again.

“To the contender role, then.”