Antoine Douglas wants to cash in on opportunity in Showtime bout

Born prematurely and not expected to survive. Put up for adoption at age 5. Rubbing elbows with drug dealers and gangs in his Washington, D.C., neighborhood only to be saved by his cousin, who took him to a boxing gym when he was 9 and changed his life forever.

Kinda has that Hollywood feel to it.

But it’s all true. Douglas overcame the pitfalls of his early days to make something of himself. He has emerged as a good middleweight who is hoping to become a world champion.

The 23-year-old takes another important step in that direction tonight when he faces Les Sherrington in the 10-round main event of Showtime’s boxing card at the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center.

“It’s a big opportunity,” Douglas said. “It’s my first time fighting in Vegas, so I want to make a good impression.”

Douglas (18-0-1, 12 knockouts) knows if he keeps winning, he’ll be back in Las Vegas, only the venue will be a lot larger. Think the new MGM-AEG arena behind New York-New York. Or, at the least, the MGM Grand Garden or Mandalay Bay.

But his focus is on the 33-year-old Sherrington, an Australian who is 35-7 with 19 KOs.

“He’s a veteran fighter, but I’ve been a pro for four years now so I’m going to look to do my thing in the ring,” Douglas said. “I’ve stayed composed and been able to pick my shots. It’s been working well for me, so that’s what I plan to do (tonight).”

In 2011, Douglas and his sister Tyrieshia fought in the Olympic Trials. And while neither made it to London the following year, both turned pro, and Tyrieshia is 9-1 with four KOs.

“It was great to see her find boxing,” Douglas said. “She thought it was cool what I was doing in the ring, and I’m very proud of her. She’s a very good fighter herself.”

Douglas said even though he found boxing as an antidote for trouble, he still had to ward off the external forces growing up that tried to steer him down the wrong path.

“I was running the streets because I didn’t know any better,” he said. “My cousin adopted us, and he first introduced us to boxing. Boxing provided me with a family, structure and discipline. It has made me the person I am today and has brought me success so I can live a better life in the future.

“My upbringing in the streets prepared me for my career in the ring. I have already been through the battle, and if something was to stop me, it would’ve already happened. I think the fact I was mentally tough enough to avoid trouble had a lot to do with it.”

Douglas has since reconnected with his mother.

“My mom battled (drug) addiction when I was younger, and she wasn’t in my life,” Douglas said. “She’s now back in my life, and it means a lot to me to have her supporting me with my career. I am also able to provide structure in her life.

“It would mean everything to me to have my mom and I celebrate a world title.”

Douglas is coming off a third-round technical knockout over previously unbeaten Istvan Szili on July 17 in Bethlehem, Pa. He said he’s ready for Sherrington, a southpaw.

“He’s fairly tall and long, but from what I’ve seen, he doesn’t really fight from the outside,” Douglas said. “He likes to get inside and throw combinations and trade with his opponents. So we’ve prepared for that.”

In the co-feature, Taras Shelestyuk (12-0, eight KOs) faces Aslanbek Kozaev (26-1-1, seven KOs) in a 10-round welterweight bout. The first bell is scheduled for 6 p.m.

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow him on Twitter: @stevecarprj