By Francisco Salazar

Few boxing fans can say they have seen KeAndre Gibson fight. Fewer can say that he is undefeated or that he fights under the Golden Boy Promotions banner.

After tonight, he wants to be the talk of the boxing world.

On top of that, he wants to be mentioned amongst the top fighters in the 140-pound division.

Gibson will have to do it against an unbeaten contender tonight when he faces Antonio Orozco at The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas. The bout will air live on ESPN Deportes, beginning at 9 p.m. ET/ 6 p.m. PT.

ESPN2 will air the tape-delay, beginning at 11 p.m. ET/ 8 p.m. PT.

Gibson (16-0-1, 7 KOs) has built his unbeaten record fighting modest opposition, but only a handful of his fights have been broadcast. He has the opportunity tonight to gain more fans or create a buzz with a win tonight.

Some wonder whether Gibson is biting off more than he can chew tonight, considering Orozco has faced better opposition and has been mentioned as a possible opponent for world junior welterweight titleholder Terence Crawford. But Gibson is convinced he is more than ready for this fight and plans to shock the boxing world.

"It's been close to six years since I turned pro, but I'm finally reaping the rewards with (tonight's) fight," Gibson told Boxingscene.com over the phone earlier this week. "I honestly felt that I was going to eventually fight him over the last four years. Now I get my opportunity."

"Orozco is always in tip-top shape. I've seen and studied his fights. He always outworks his opponents. You may hit him with a three-four punch combination, but he hits you back with a five-six punch combo. You just need to be in tip-top shape and fight at a fast pace and I know I could do both when I face Orozco."

Orozco has fought numerous times on Estrella TV, HBO Latino, and HBO broadcasts, allowing boxing fans to follow his career from prospect to contender status.

Gibson’s last fight was a decision win over Mahonry Montes on November 18. The fight was broadcast on the Spanish-language Estrella TV network, but Gibson understood he had to get matched tough in order for his fight to get air-time.

“There were those who didn’t like the (Montes) fight for me because he was an experienced guy,” said the 27-year-old Gibson. “Montes was a seasoned guy, but my trainer and I actually wanted the fight. Golden Boy puts you in tough and you have to perform.”

“I like challenges. I believe it brings out the best in you. I’ve worked hard in camp and I’ve received quality sparring. The better competition you fight, the better you get.”

Gibson lives and trains in Las Vegas, but is originally from Saint Louis, Missouri. The city has produced numerous world champions, from Charles ‘Sonny’ Liston to more recently in Corey Spinks and Devon Alexander.

Spinks and Alexander left a lasting impression on Gibson, both in and out of the ring.

“It meant a lot to me to watch Devon Alexander fight on TV and to have Cory Spinks motivate me. They’re from the city, even the same neighborhood where I grew up. I saw how they were on television, fighting for world titles and making money. If they did it, I could do it too.”

Gibson may be in for a dog-fight tonight, but he is willing to take a big risk against a seasoned and talented fighter in Antonio Orozco.

The no-risk, no-reward attitude is a welcome change from other young fighters that may put too much emphasis on protecting their ‘O.’

A win tonight would catapult Gibson into the upper echelon of the 140-pound division.

“I want to make a statement tonight. Even though I have less experience than he does, I want to outclass him. I’m ready for the next chapter in my career. I feel I’m more than ready for (tonight).”

“I know I can beat him (Orozco).”

Francisco A. Salazar has written for Boxingscene.com since September of 2012 and has covered boxing in Southern California and abroad since 2000. Francisco also covers boxing for the Ventura County (Calif.) Star newspaper, RingTV.com, and Knockout Nation. He can be reached by email at santio89@yahoo.com or on Twitter at FSalazarBoxing