Philly’s Stephen Fulton Jr. set to box another undefeated fighter Saturday in his quest to become a world champion

Stephen Fulton Jr. didn’t grow up as a big boxing fan. Neither did his father, who watched boxing as a child only when his mother tuned in for a Muhammad Ali fight.

Neither of them would have predicted this moment 15 years ago on 48th and Parrish Streets in West Philadelphia, but here they are.

Fulton (17-0, 8 KOs) will fight Arnold Khegai (16-0-1, 10 KOs) on Saturday night at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., in a super-bantamweight match on the undercard of the Danny Garcia-Ivan Redkach bout. It will be Fulton’s second fight at the Barclays Center. He knocked out Marlon Olea there last January.

“I’m excited, because this will assure the fans of who I am and what I can do," Fulton Jr. said Wednesday. “I’m willing and ready to put on a great performance."

Fulton, 25, prides himself on taking out undefeated boxers. He has given six fighters their first loss. Khegai has beaten only one undefeated fighter, but that came via knockout.

It’s safe to say that this will be Fulton's toughest test yet. Khegai is ranked as the No. 2 contender in the World Boxing Organization at 122 pounds, while Fulton is ranked eighth. This fight, which will be televised on Showtime, will put the winner in prime position to compete for a world championship sanctioned by one of boxing’s four main bodies.

Khegai, 27, is a Ukraine native living in Philadelphia. His first 12 bouts were in Russia.

Fulton said he notices “a lot of loud noises” and “aggression” when watching Khegai fight. Fulton considers “his mind” as his biggest strength, and he believes Khegai’s aggressive style is easy to counter.

“It’s the easiest style for me and my style, because [opponents] want to be stronger, and the type of fighter I am, you can’t beat with anger,” Fulton said. “The calm person will always win.”

When Saturday comes, Fulton and his father will soak up the moment, because the road there wasrocky.

Fulton Sr. was convicted of armed robbery and sentenced to 15 years in prison shortly after the birth of his son. While he sat in his cell, he thought about what he wanted to do as a father, but the main thing he told himself was, “I’m never coming back here.”

“When I got out of prison, I had a changed mindset," the father said Friday. “I wanted to get home with my son, and I wanted to make sure he is progressing in life.”

Fulton Sr. was paroled after serving 10 years. Shortly after, he was talking with family friend Hamza Muhammad at a congregation after a Friday prayer. Muhammad mentioned his prowess as a boxing trainer. Two days later, Muhammad began training 10-year-old Fulton.

Muhammad has been his trainer ever since and will be in his corner Saturday night.

Fulton might not have been a young boxing fan, but he keeps up with Philly fighters. He’s close with Julian Williams, who lost a stunner to Jeison Rosario last week at Temple University’s Liacouras Center. Fulton was at that fight and gave Williams words of encouragement afterward.

That’s just one of the reasons Fulton is motivated to get the job done Saturday.

“I don’t think any of us want to see one another lose,” Fulton said of Philly boxers. “It’s tough love, and we all want to see each other win.”