When a slight and nervous 11-year-old Jake McCowatt first walked into Rotorua's Ngakaunui Muay Thai gym, head trainer Wayne Wairoa immediately saw great potential.
Fast forward six years and McCowatt will boldly step into the ring next month for the international show - Rumble 15 New Zealand vs Tahiti, at the Rotorua Girls' High Arena, as the headline act aiming to win the IKBF South Pacific belt.
The softly spoken 17-year-old is quietly confident ahead of his title bout and after recently adding the 2016 WKA adult national belt, against a 23-year-old opponent, to his under-19 and 18 national titles that's no surprise.
Despite still being a Year 12 student at Western Heights High School, McCowatt is spending every spare moment training, including three weekly sessions with coaches Wairoa and Daniel Kidwell.
"At the moment the coaching is very tough, it's a very technical sport and involves a lot of fitness and strength," McCowatt said.
"But I really want to take the next step up and I feel confident that I can win the fight and the title.
"It doesn't intimidate me that I'm always up against older opponents - some have been double my age.
"It's made me stronger and against my Tahiti opponent I aim to make my attacking moves pay off."
Wairoa, who has been coaching for 24 years, described McCowatt as a "pitbull of a fighter" and said the Rotorua audience would be wowed by the talented youngster and all of the fighters in action on the evening.
"When I first met Jake he was very quiet and shy but I could tell instantly that he had a lot of heart and the right attitude," he said.
"That's so important for trainers to work with. He's had to take a lot of flack off me and Daniel - we've pushed him very hard put it's paid off in the ring.
"It will be special for Rotorua because Jake and all the fighters will put on a brilliant show and it's something a bit different."
Kidwell added: "Jake is a very powerful young fellow who has a lot of skill. He has worked a lot on his strength and he overpowers his opponents.
"It will be a cracking international event. It's a very exciting and thrilling sport to watch."
For McCowatt, fighting is his biggest passion and he is aiming to be a world champion in the sport.
"I just love getting into the ring and giving it your all," he said.
"I enjoy other sports like rugby and basketball but in Muay Thai everything comes down to you. No one else is going to help carry you over the line and get you a winning result.
"It's such a technical sport - I'm still learning new things now and that's what makes it so great.
"As soon as I'm 18 I want lots more international fights and my dream is to become the world champion."
Other Ngakaunui Muay Thai gym fighters Rene Rashka and Amorangi Loffley will be gunning for North Island titles and Keita Brightwell, Sharnese Tutara and Ghanet Murtagh also have fights on the night.
Rumble 15 New Zealand vs Tahiti
Saturday October 22
Rotorua Girls' High Arena
Doors open from 5pm
For ticket information visit: facebook.com/TheRotoruaMuayThaiGym.