It was in August 2023, 21 months before signing with Matchroom as a professional boxer, that Adam Maca first spoke to Eddie Hearn.

Maca, a wiry 16-year-old at the time, was with fellow teenage sensation Leo Atang at London's O2 Arena for an iFL TV event which took place the day after Anthony Joshua's brutal knockout of Robert Helenius.

The pair, full of confidence, strolled up to Hearn, one of the biggest promoters in the world, and spoke about potentially working together one day.

Maca said to The Ring: "About two years ago, we were at an IFL event, me and Leo Atang were there, just chatting after the AJ card and we ended up going up to and meeting Eddie.

"I was focusing on my amateurs. We didn't want to think about what I'm doing when I turn pro until it was that time — up until a few months ago, finding your manager and things. We went with Sam and then it's getting your deals off the promoters.

"But at the time it was me and Leo there and Eddie said 'keep working hard boys, I'll sign you one day'. Me and Leo posted a photo and it just said 'one day' or something and now we've both signed with him."

Nearly two years later, Maca, having signed with Matchroom last month, is preparing to make his debut in the paid ranks at New York City's Madison Square Garden on Saturday.

Maca previously told The Ring of his dream to fight at boxing's Mecca, and although it's taking place in the Garden's "little room" the stage is set for the Brighton-born bantamweight to show off his skills in front of an American audience.

The bill is headlined by Richardson Hitchins' IBF junior welterweight world title defence against George Kambosos Jr.

Maca's manager Sam Jones, aware of the youngster's Albanian roots, had it penned into the Matchroom deal that his debut be in New York City, where there is a sizeable Albanian population of more than 100,000.

And Maca, known for both a seek-and-destroy attitude in the ring and his power-punching abilities, is more than sure his debut against The Bronx's Rafael Castillo (2-6, 1 KO) will be an impressive one.

"It's one of those things, when you look for the knockout, it doesn't come," he adds.

"I know what I can do and I know it will come when I'm in there. I do come to knock people out. Even in the amateurs, as a 13, 14 year old, you've got your big gloves on, head guards on — I still wanted to hurt people. When you're in the ring, that's what I was looking to do, and it's what I'll continue to look to do.

"When I started knocking people out [in the amateurs] I realised, I've got a bit of power here. So I'll be looking to do the same in the pros."

"I want to come out and look good. I haven't decided a game plan yet, I'm a bit 50-50 as to whether to come out, look good for a little bit and then get him out. Or just come straight out and get him out straight away. But it'll end in a stoppage."