Those with Puerto Rican backgrounds have been a fixture in boxing for generations.

Current fighters Amanda Serrano, Oscar Collazo and Xander Zayas have followed the lead of Hall of Famers Wilfredo Benitez, Hector Camacho, Miguel Cotto, Wilfredo Gomez, Carlos Ortiz and Felix "Tito" Trinidad to keep one of the sport's strongest traditions alive.

Joshua James “JJ” Pagan hopes to join that group as the next titleholder from the island or of Puerto Rican descent. He’ll have a chance to take a significant step in that direction on Oct. 23, when he faces Maliek Montgomery for the NABO lightweight belt at the Coliseito Pedrín Zorrilla in San Juan on DAZN.

“I want to follow in the footsteps of Tito Trinidad, Miguel Cotto, all these legends,” Pagan told The Ring. “That's why I'm working hard and taking these great fights.”

Pagan’s family, from his father/trainer Victor Pagan’s side, is from Aguas Buenas, Puerto Rico. He was born and raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and was a three-time Michigan Golden Gloves Champion, along with winning the 2021 USA Boxing National Championship at 147 pounds.

Pagan (13-0, 4 KOs) has fought once in Puerto Rico, defeating Haskell Rhodes by unanimous decision in October of last year. The 5-foot-10 lightweight has won each of his last five fights by unanimous decision and went 10 rounds for the second time in his last bout, against James Bernadin on June 6.

Montgomery (20-1, 18 KOs) will be in his fourth scheduled 10-round bout. The native of Macon, Georgia, lost a unanimous decision to Jeremy Hill (22-4-1, 13 KOs) in his last outing, on March 22.

For Pagan, the opportunity to share these moments with his father and fight in front of his family is something he doesn’t take for granted as he looks to cement himself as a player at 135 pounds.

“I wouldn't want to share them with anybody else,” he said. “He's been with me since the very beginning. … It means everything to me being able to perform in front of my family, where my father's side of the family comes from.

"Just being able to have this big opportunity fighting for the NABO title, I'm just very blessed.”