Becoming an overnight success takes years.

Jack Rafferty, 24-0 (15 KOs), turned professional back in 2017 and spent seven years - almost to the day - battling away for recognition on the small hall circuit.

Over the past 14 months, the pieces have finally begun to fall into place for the junior welterweight.

Firstly, Rafferty scored a devastating first round knockout of the respected Lee Appleyard to win the Commonwealth title. He followed that up by stopping India’s Sabari Jaishankar on a DAZN show and was finally mandated to fight for the vacant British title.

Last October, Rafferty found himself in the away corner for his fight with Queensberry Promotions’ unbeaten hope, Henry Turner, but calmly and systematically broke down the the talented amateur star, eventually forcing a dramatic ninth round stoppage.

The win earned the 29 year-old more than the British title. It secured him his own promotional deal with Queensberry Promotions and he has been given the perfect platform to prove his worth.

His title defence against Reece MacMillan, 17-1 (2 KOs), has been given a prime spot on the undercard of Saturday night’s heavyweight fight between Derek Chisora and Otto Wallin which takes place at Manchester’s Co-Op Live Arena. Rafferty can see the venue from his city centre apartment. TNT Sports will televise the show.

After spending so long away from the spotlight, Rafferty is enjoying his new standing.

“It’s brilliant. I was fighting on these small hall shows and it was easy to dodge me. I didn’t have the backing behind me. Now, I've got something for people to fight me for. They want to fight me,” he told The Ring.

“If it's not for a half decent payday, it’s my title's that they want. They want to say they beat Jack Rafferty. It can't happen. It's not happening. I work too hard. It's a brilliant seat to be sat in.

“Now, all the pressure is off my back. I'm signed with Frank. I'm getting paid nicely and he's pushed me onto massive titles and bigger and better things.”

Those who judge boxing purely by numbers and stats on a BoxRec page may look at Rafferty’s long unbeaten record - the longest current run in British boxing - and his age and assume that he has seen everything there is to see in the sport.

Waiting for the floor manager to give him his cue to walk to the ring to fight Turner was new experience for him. It may have been his first time fighting on such a big show in such a big arena but he refused to second guess himself.

“I do the hard work. I've done the rounds, I've done the training. I’ve been in the trenches and I knew what I could do,” he said.

“I knew who I was up against and walking out in that Liverpool arena, it was surreal but I knew I'd worked hard to be there. I soaked it all up, beat a top-class operator in Henry Turner and I got the job done. I came out the British, Commonwealth, and WBC International champion.”

The British junior welterweight division is deeper than it has ever been. It is also an active division. Over the course of a month British fight fans will have seen four of the UK’s leading lights in meaningful action.

Dalton Smith started the run on January 25th, blowing away Walid Ouizza inside a round to win the vacant European title. Adam Azim was hot on his heels. Last week, the 22 year old produced a career best display to outbox and stop former IBF champion, Sergey Lipinets. On February 15th, Jack Catterall boxes Arnold Barboza Jar for the interim WBO title. The winner will become mandatory challenger for Teofimo Lopez’s full title.

Rafferty’s maiden title defence falls right in the middle of that schedule. For the first time, viewers will have the chance to watch him go about his business and then compare him to those more established names.

Rafferty appreciates the position he finds himself in but also knows that he has earned his spot. He admits that it feels good to be spoken about as a legitimate championship level fighter rather than the dark horse of the division but knows what could lie ahead if he continues to win.

“Oh, massively. The belts are keys to doors. Reece McMillan is in the way of me opening another door and going on to greater things, hopefully winning that British outright,” he said.

“I've got to do a job on Reece McMillan. I've done all the hard training, all the hard work, Now, I'm on the massive platforms. I’ve got to rise to this.

“It's nice for him. He’s got nothing to lose and loads to win. He's going to come and meet me in the centre of the ring and meet fire with fire.”