It was a surreal moment for Jesus Escalera and he hasn’t even yet stepped into the ring.

The unbeaten Puerto Rican heavyweight understood the importance of his first true step-up fight taking place on this particular event. Escalera will face Louisiana’s Jonathan Guidry (19-1-2, 11KOs) in a scheduled ten-round regional heavyweight title fight this Saturday from Casino Miami Jai Alai in Miami, Florida.

Hall of Fame promoter Don King has billed the event as an extended celebration of his 92nd birthday. For Escalera, though, a different kind of anniversary serves as his motivation.  

“For me, this is more of a historical,” Escalera explained during Wednesday’s final pre-fight press conference. “My uncle fought in this same venue 40 years ago. And with the same promoter, Don King.

“For me to be fighting 40 years later in the same ring as my uncle is a honor. It’s an honor that I will represent for (Puerto Rico) and for the fighting spirit of Puerto Rico. I’m going to put on a hell of a performance.”

Escalera’s uncle, Alfredo Escalera was a former WBC junior lightweight champion. The entertaining boxer from Carolina, Puerto Rico made ten successful title defenses before his reign ended in a thrilling January 1978 13th round cuts stoppage loss to the late, legendary Alexis Arguello. Their rematch 13 months later ended in the same round; both bouts are among The Ring magazine’s Top 100 fights of all time.

The final years of the elder Escalera’s career were spent in the greater Miami area, including four fights—all wins—at this very site. He had three in 1983, 40 years from the time when Jason Escalera (19-0, 19KOs) moves up in class barely a year into his pro career.

“We will have the fight of the night,” vowed Escalera. “[Guidry] will be able to answer questions about my career. Can I go ten rounds? Can I fight at this level? He will be able to answer these questions because he’s the champion.”

Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox