For many who put on a pair of gloves, the ultimate dream is to one day have their hand raised in victory and be crowned as a world champion.

Boxing politics may not allow for that moment to come for Yoenis Tellez. Tellez is the interim WBA junior middleweight titleholder, with pound-for-pound great Terence Crawford in possession of the full title.

Crawford (41-0, 31 KOs) more than likely will vacate his belt as he’s set to face Canelo Alvarez (63-2-2, 39 KOs) for his undisputed super middleweight title on Sept. 13 in Las Vegas. That’d set the stage for Tellez (10-0, 7 KOs) to either be elevated to the full titlist or have to fight someone to become the full WBA champion.

How that moment arrives is the least of Tellez’s worries. The only thing that matters to the ascending Cuban star is getting what he believes is rightfully his.

“My whole mission is to fight,” Tellez told The Ring via translator. “It doesn’t matter to me whether I have to fight for it or not. I just want what I’ve earned. If I’ve earned it, it’s more than welcome and if I have to fight for it, I’ll do that as well. I’m here to fight. That’s what I’ve come here to do.”

Tellez, who is The Ring’s No. 10-ranked junior middleweight, will make the first defense of his interim title on Saturday when he faces Abass Baraou at Caribe Royale in Orlando, Florida, on a Most Valuable Promotions card on DAZN. The decorated amateur won the interim title on March 1 with a dominant unanimous decision over former unified junior middleweight champion Julian Williams (29-5-1, 17 KOs) at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

Tellez has made a quick ascent to the top of junior middleweight, which stands as one of boxing’s best divisions. He credits his rapid rise at 154 pounds to his team and their guidance since he turned pro in 2020.

“My team trusted me,” Tellez said. “They put me in such big fights early in my career and big challenges. Now, my sight is beyond that.”

Baraou (16-1, 9 KOs) represents the most significant test of Tellez’s career. The German contender has won seven straight fights and is ranked No. 1 by the WBA. He’ll be entering Saturday on a 14-month layoff since his unanimous decision over Macaulay McGowan to retain his European junior middleweight title.

Any hopes for Tellez finding himself on top are predicated on getting past Baraou. And if he emerges victorious and is soon elevated to WBA champ, that accomplishment won’t just be for him. It’ll be for those who have supported him back home and are also from Santiago de Cuba, Cuba.

“I’m really proud to be representing my country on such a big stage,” Tellez said. “I’m representing other Cubans who have supported me and where I’ve come from.”