LAS VEGAS – Samuel Contreras Jnr is going from Palmdale, California to the Palms resort in Las Vegas.

The 20-year-old Contreras will make his professional debut on Saturday night in a four-round junior welterweight bout against Robert Jimenez at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. The fight will be the first of the night on the Richard Torrez Jnr vs. Guido Vianello card, which is promoted by Top Rank.

Contreras has faced a who’s who of top amateurs, including Abdullah Mason, who was in the Top Rank Gym on Wednesday. He also fought Ryan Williams, Benjamin Johnson, Julius Ballo and Dedrick Crocklem. During his amateur career, Contreras has won 14 national titles and two gold medals in international tournaments. Contreras Jnr, who was nearly on weight for his final workout before concluding camp, explained how, despite his amateur success, this is the part of his career that makes him excited.

“It's always been my dream to fight professionally,” Contreras Jnr told BoxingScene. “It's something big for me, something that we're ready for and that we're prepared.”

“This is something very special to fight in Vegas,” Contreras Jnr said. “To get to this point, it has been hard. I didn’t have an easy career. I am not going to lie, but I am grateful that I kept pushing.”

Contreras entered the Las Vegas-based gym mere minutes away from the fighters’ hotel with his friend and training partner Francisco Cruz, a bantamweight with a record of 3-0 (3 KOs). Cruz monitored the times for Contreras as he skipped rope and hit mitts with his father. He was stoic and calm in his demeanor and keen with detail.

“It's been a long time coming to see him turn pro,” Cruz told BoxingScene while holding a stopwatch in the gym. It gives me joy to see him succeed in what he's doing. I know how tough it is to make weight, so I'm just here so he can have a great fight on a Top Rank undercard.

Contreras' first dream was to be an Olympian. After a failed bid to make the U.S. national team, Contreras went undefeated in three national tournaments for El Salvador, where his parents are from. Contreras fought in the world Olympic qualifiers Olympics at 139lbs, but lost in the quarter finals in Italy and Thailand.

“My goal and dream was to win an Olympic medal, but that's something that I didn't get accomplished and came up short,” Contreras Jnr said. “Now it's time to look forward and focus on my professional career starting Saturday.”

Jimenez, 2-2-1 (1 KO), entered the contest on a two-fight win streak. Jimenez, a 30-year-old from Nampa, Idaho, has never been stopped as a professional, something notable leading into this bout. Contreras Snr, who wears multiple hats as his trainer, manager, and most importantly, father, explained what makes his son different as they look to make a strong impression come fight night.

“I think it is his confidence because when you win a gold internationally, you have fought the best in the world,” Contreras Snr told BoxingScene. “Going as a pro, you start a little slower, giving us that confidence. We've been out there with the best in the world. We've been in that scenario before.”