Many boxers grow up fighting in their hometown, developing a fan base along the way and enjoying the support of the community.
Then, if the fighter happens to be one of the few to win a world title, the day might come when he is lucky enough to get the chance to defend the crown at home. It's something many boxers dream about.
Lightweight world titleholder Robert Easter Jr., one of boxing's finest young talents, did not have the luxury of boxing at home in Toledo, Ohio, as he was coming up the ranks. In fact, since turning professional in late 2012, Easter has never boxed in front of a hometown crowd.
Only twice has Easter even fought in his home state of Ohio, both times in Cincinnati, in 2014 and 2015, on the undercard of his close friend Adrien Broner.
"You don't underestimate no man. Cruz is a tough guy. He has two hands as well as I do. He has a good chance of winning the title as well, but he won't be beating me and getting that title from me." Robert Easter Jr.
Last September, several hundred Toledo faithful made the trip to Reading, Pennsylvania, to watch as Easter survived a flash knockdown in the eighth round and edged Richard Commey by split decision in an exciting fight to win a vacant 135-pound world title.
And now, five months later, Easter will fulfill a dream by returning home to make his first title defense, where he will face Puerto Rico's Luis Cruz in the main event of a Premier Boxing Champions card on Friday night (Bounce TV, 9:00 ET) at the Huntington Center in Toledo.
"It's been wonderful," Easter told ESPN. "My family and my team, they keep me focused on the goal. I put myself in a prison away from everything to focus and bring this tremendous card back home. It's definitely a big deal since they announced it. Everybody's been going crazy. Everybody is excited for this fight and for me. It's been nothing but a blessing.
"Since I started my pro career, I knew this day would come. Not making the Olympics and not winning national titles put this hunger in me that I would become a world champion and make sure that I bring something back to my hometown. This is definitely a dream come true."
One of Easter's buddies will defend his world title for the first time as well in the co-feature, as three-time U.S. Olympian Rau'shee Warren (14-1, 4 KOs), 29, of Cincinnati takes on interim titlist and mandatory challenger Zhanat Zhakiyanov (26-1, 18 KOs), 33, of Kazakhstan.
Easter (18-0, 14 KOs), however, is the big draw and enjoying the limelight of headlining a card that Broner's About Billions Promotions is co-promoting with Mayweather Promotions.
"I'm so grateful for all of the support I've received from fans here in Toledo," Easter said at this week's final news conference. "You keep me going forward, and you keep me motivated. My dad [and trainer, Robert Easter Sr., a former pro fighter] and I have come a long way. It's been a long road, and we're finally here, on top. I couldn't have done this without him.
"Toledo has been showing up like crazy for my last two fights, so it's got me feeling very comfortable and confident."
But not overconfident, Easter Jr. said.
"You don't underestimate no man," Easter said. "Cruz is a tough guy. He has two hands as well as I do. He has a good chance of winning the title as well, but he won't be beating me and getting that title from me. We will be victorious. I hope he brings his A game, because I'm bringing my A-plus game."
Truth be told, the 31-year-old Cruz (22-4-1, 16 KOs) is an opponent Easter's team hopes makes him look good. Perhaps go a few rounds with the new titleholder and then wind up as a knockout victim. He is 3-4-1 in his last eight fights and his resume is slight, including a knockout loss to contender Edner Cherry in 2015. Cruz is, however, coming off his best performance in a surprising 10-round draw with Ivan Redkach.
"I'm going to leave it all in the ring. I know that everything is up against me going to his hometown, but it is my dream to fight for a world title and I will give it everything I have." Luis Cruz
"I watched the first few rounds of his fight with Cherry," Easter said. "I only need a few rounds to pretty much figure his style out. He was boxing him pretty good, but I don't pick my opponents. I leave that up to my team. I know Cruz is a tough guy, but he won't bring anything I haven't seen. I am prepared to deliver a knockout.
"I can't wait to get into the ring for this fight. This is something I've been waiting on for years. I'm a world champion just like I knew I always would be."
Cruz gets it. He knows he is a major underdog. A win would be considered a monumental upset. But that doesn't mean he won't give it his all.
"I've been training really hard, and I'm planning on taking full advantage of this," Cruz said. "I hope that all the people who come out on Friday are ready to see a great fight. I'm going to leave it all in the ring. I know that everything is up against me going to his hometown, but it is my dream to fight for a world title, and I will give it everything I have."
The tough fight against Commey taught Easter a lot about himself and his ability to overcome adversity. He figures it has only made him stronger as he heads into defense No. 1.
"Yes, that was a very tough fight," Easter said. "Commey was an awkward opponent, and he came to fight. But I wasn't going to leave that ring without that world title. We prepared for the worst for that fight because you never know what you may get yourself into.
"I'm the type of fighter that whenever I face adversity I won't come out a loser. I will do whatever it takes to win. I showed I can fight to the end. We can bang it out. I can box. I learned I have the heart and ability to overcome all those obstacles. Every time I watch that fight back on video, I get the chills. It was that exciting. I still get chills watching it."
Should Easter prevail in what many expect to be a gimme defense, he would like to move on to more significant fights against the best the division has to offer, namely the other titleholders: Mikey Garcia, Jorge Linares and Terry Flanagan. Each match would carry its own intrigue, but a showdown with Garcia would be the best fight that could be made in the division.
"I feel a fight with Mikey Garcia or Jorge Linares will make me a superstar," Easter said. "Those are the two fights I want to see happen. I want any of the guys with the titles, any of the guys on top of my weight class." Easter, who turned 26 last month, is nearly 6 feet tall and won't stay at lightweight for much longer, so if those showdowns are to happen, they'll need to go down rather quickly.
"I can carry this weight for another year or so, but then I'm moving up," he said. "I think I can range all the way up to 154 pounds eventually."
In the meantime, Easter is looking forward to defending his hard-earned title, especially -- and at long last -- at home, sweet home.
"Being able to bring this title back home to Toledo is really exciting," he said.