When Fabio Wardley walks out to fight at Portman Road tonight, his dream comes true.
But the man who took the first steps towards making it a reality for him will be in the opposing corner, hoping his fighter ruins Wardley's night.
Eddie Hearn was the first major promoter to see the potential in the raw but powerful Suffolk slugger, and guided him to the English and British titles under his Matchroom banner.
With Fab having first told us about his dream of fighting at the home of his beloved Blues six years ago, Hearn took the opening steps towards making it happen, heading to Town to meet with CEO Mark Ashton and Wardley back in April 2023.
Eddie Hearn was the firsr promoter to explore Fabio Wardley fighting at Portman RoadEddie Hearn was the first promoter to explore Fabio Wardley fighting at Portman Road (Image: Fabio Wardley/Instagram) The picture the club and Matchroom shared of the trio on the pitch melted my phone, as friends and folks I'd not spoken to for years got in touch demanding to know the background. When's it happening? Who against?
Putting a fight on at a football stadium is always tricky though - there's such a short window of opportunity to do it in, the opponent has to be right etc - and circumstances conspired against them at that moment.
Fast forward two years and Wardley is now a Frank Warren fighter, with Hearn the rival promoter - and he thinks Justis Huni is all wrong for Fab's homecoming.
Indeed, Hearn likens this fight to one he took for Anthony Joshua. The unbeaten Brit was set to make his American debut against the mouthy Jarrell Miller - the same Miller Wardley was due to fight tonight.
But Miller failed a drugs test, and late replacement Andy Ruiz stepped in. A little pudding of a man with surprisingly fast hands, Ruiz was given no chance - but shocked the world by stopping Joshua and taking his world titles in New York back in June 2019.
Eddie Hearn sees comparison between Huni v Wardley and the night Andy Ruiz shocked the world against Anthony JoshuaEddie Hearn sees comparison between Huni v Wardley and the night Andy Ruiz shocked the world against Anthony Joshua (Image: PA) And Hearn insisted: "I couldn’t believe it when we got the call. It is going to be just over six years since Anthony Joshua lost to Andy Ruiz and the similarities are so similar.
“We were fighting Jarrell Miller and about four weeks before he pulled out of the fight.
"We were so confident but, like Frank, we wanted to deliver a great fight for the fans and the broadcaster.
"We probably chose the wrong style, we probably chose the wrong fight and this is a carbon copy of that. I really believe that.
“Don’t get me wrong, I am happy and sad. I am happy that Justis is going to get his chance to announce himself on the world stage, but just a little bit sad for Fabio because I thought he would beat Jarrell Miller and I was quite looking forward to seeing it.
"And now we’ve got to go and ruin everything, the dream, the fairytale, and it is a tough one.
"Because he is a lovely, lovely fella and now we get on with Frank. The pressure is massive on Fabio Wardley, massive."
Frank Warren is backing his man Wardley to prevailFrank Warren is backing his man Wardley to prevail (Image: PA) While Hearn's prediction drew smiles and laughs from Warren - with whom he now has a friendly rivalry - there is no doubt that Huni poses totally different questions for Wardley then the gigantic, all-action Miller would have done.
Warren insisted he's not worried though. “I really feel that Fabio has shown what he is all about and, in every fight he’s had, everybody has been on the floor, they have all tasted the floor," he stressed.
"He certainly doesn’t want to lose that run he’s got and we feel he has the beating of Justis, who is really a very good fighter, a quality fighter.
“I think we are going to see a real, real battle between the two of them. This is going to be boxing at its best.
"A stellar amateur background from Justis, who is undefeated as a pro. There is the spice of Queensberry v Matchroom and, I promise you, you are not going to be disappointed.
“The fans will get behind their man and see him get through this, which I believe will be a tough fight, but he will go on and turn this interim title into a full world title."
As you'd expect, Wardley agreed with his promoter.
Legendary promoters Frank Warren and Eddie Hearn will be on either side of the ring tonight as their fighters clash in SuffolkLegendary promoters Frank Warren and Eddie Hearn will be on either side of the ring tonight as their fighters clash in Suffolk (Image: Leigh Dawney/Queensberry) “He’s doing his bit," Wardley said of Hearn's jibe, speaking to me in the aftermath.
"It’s good to have him as part of it. He’s always good for a quote and a good mouthpiece for his fighters, he’s always got faith.
“So I expect him to have full faith in and believe in Justis, and almost say what he has to say to egg him on.
“But ultimately, the only one who’s made a mistake here is those guys, sacrificing their undefeated heavyweight boxer – and they haven’t got too many heavyweights left in their stable, so he’s fed one to the wolves there.”