Kurt Scoby does not believe in taking time off. 

Time away from the gym could be a lost opportunity for the unbeaten junior welterweight.

Scoby returns to action tonight, squaring off against Narciso Carmona at the Overtime Elite Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. The eight-round bout will headline a OTX Boxing card that will stream live on DAZN (8 p.m. ET/ 5 p.m. PT).

The 27-year-old Scoby (12-0, 10 knockouts), who grew up in Southern California and now lives and trains in New York City, battered Henry ‘Hank’ Lundy in his last bout on June 29 before ending matters in the second round. Afterwards, Scoby posted on his social media account of himself running on a treadmill.

In his previous fight on February 17, which appeared on a ShoBox card, Scoby dropped Australia’s John Mannu multiple times before the fight was stopped, also in the second round. Scoby has demonstrated a lot of power and aggression in recent fights, having won his last seven fights by knockout. 

Scoby is promoted by Lou DiBella, who raves about Scoby’s improving skill-set and his trajectory at 140 pounds.

Carmona (11-0-1, 6 KOs), who resides in Sevilla, Spain, will mark the third unbeaten fighter Scoby has faced in his career, thus far. He enjoys the competition he faces and hopes to eventually face the upper echelon of the division.

“Life is the best competition,” Scoby told BoxingScene Wednesday night. “I wake up and it’s always me versus me. Whenever the phone rings, I answer and always stay ready so I don’t gotta get ready.”

Scoby is already a top prospect in a very competitive weight class. The 140-pound division is one of boxing’s top and best weight classes, in terms of talent.

Comparing himself to the other fighters in the division, Scoby is hard-pressed to find anyone who can match or supersede his drive and determination in facing the best in the division.

“(What sets me apart from others is) my work ethic and how serious I take boxing,” said Scoby, who is co-managed by Daniel F. Gonzalez and Brandon Stump. “Not only when the phone rings, but I take it seriously all year round.”

Scoby endured a difficult journey since his pre-teens. By the time he was 12, Scoby entered the foster system, living in 14 different foster homes. Scoby began to excel in football, and was an exceptional running back that earned him a scholarship to Fresno State, and later to Azusa Pacific University. 

Besides playing football, he began to dabble in boxing at the age of 10, but also excelled in the sport, accumulating an amateur record of 130-20, including a win at the 2019 California Golden Gloves Tournament. 

After deciding to move on from football, Scoby decided to dedicate himself to boxing full-time. At the height of the pandemic in 2020, Scoby bought a $11 plane ticket to New York City, where he now lives. He currently trains at the famed Gleason’s Gym and is trained by Don Saxby.

Scoby would not want it any other way, stating boxing saved his life.

“Of course it did,” said Scoby, who is the father of six-year-old Leo Noelle. “Just because of the discipline, of staying in shape, eating well, and living correctly. All of the life-changing attributes.”

Scoby is on the cusp of becoming a contender at 140 pounds and a statement win over Carmona could put him closer to that distinction. 

Seeing himself in a few of the teenagers and young, college-age people he comes across, Scoby offers them advice anytime he sees they need guidance.

“Always listen to the good, the bad, and the ugly and use it all as 91 (octane) fuel to your corvette.”

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