Dylan Capetillo, aged 17, makes pro debut this Saturday in Vegas

Dylan Capetillo has always wanted to be a pro boxer, and now he gets to make that dream a reality on Saturday.

At 17 years old, Capetillo will make his debut against Jesus Antonio Rios Castro in a four-round lightweight bout at The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas.

Capetillo, the son of Jorge Capetillo, a notable trainer and cutman who has worked with the likes of Andy Ruiz Jnr and Tyson Fury, has ambitions to follow in their footsteps.

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“Since I was a little baby, my goal was to be a professional,” Capetillo told BoxingScene. “I have always dreamed of being a world champion. I always dreamed of being one of the youngest pro boxers signed.”

Capetillo signed with Golden Boy Promotions earlier this year. He was set to make his professional debut in February on the Arnold Barboza Jnr-Kenneth Sims Jnr undercard. Given that he was 17, Capetillo was unable to fight in California, despite efforts to make it happen. Instead, he will fight in his hometown of Las Vegas,

“All those goals, I am completing them, starting with the signing [to Golden Boy Promotions],” Capetillo said. “I never had dreams of going to the Olympics; I had dreams of being a professional fighter and a superstar.”

Capetillo has been around some of the best fighters, as he was raised in his father’s Las Vegas gym.

“The first time I was around Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez, I was 12 years old,” Capetillo said. “I was with Manny Pacquiao running up Griffith Park in camp with him at 13 years old. I was training with Jorge Linares since I was eight years old.”

Capetillo saw first-hand pay-per-view fighters achieving their dreams of winning titles and stardom. Now, his father will look to bring the experience he has from helping the world’s best fighters.

“When we are in the gym, he is my coach; when we are at home, he is my father,” Capetillo said. “My father has that experience; he has been in the corner with big fighters, big fights, big cards. He is ready to go to the corner and take care of me.”

Castro, 1-0 (1 KO), is a big unknown. He has had one fight, which he won by stoppage in Mexico. Castro, a 23-year-old Mexican from Douglas, Arizona, last fought in November at featherweight.

“I am expecting something explosive, an explosive knockout,” Capetillo said. “I want to show the people why I am debuting so young.”