CALVIN FORD is the former gang member-turned-boxing coach who helped Gervonta Davis escape a life of crime to become a champion.
Davis first walked into the Upton Boxing Center in Baltimore as a seven-year-old living with his grandmother who needed a father figure.
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And that was what Ford became for the future pay-per-view star, mentoring and coaching the American in the process.
Following a career as a major player in Baltimore’s drug trade, which earned him a decade in prison, Ford - who was the inspiration for the character Denis "Cutty" Wise in the Wire - is to be listened to.
And after getting a chance to turn his life around, he made sure to keep Davis off the path he once chose for himself.
Ford told Showtime: "I had to train Tank.
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"I didn't want him getting in trouble, I wanted to make sure that we was together, I used to take him to work with me."
In the 1980s, Ford was the lieutenant for a drug distribution ring that enforcer Reggie Gross worked for.
Gross, a heavyweight who fought Mike Tyson and Frank Bruno, is now serving life in prison for three murders he pleaded guilty to in 1989.
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A year earlier, Ford was sentenced after being convicted on racketeering and conspiracy charges.
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During his ten years behind bars, he baked and boxed and was urged by Gross to turn professional upon his release.
But Ford - who kickboxed as a youngster - instead chose to train and teach kids to avoid the mistakes he made.
When he was released, he worked as a dish washer and later manager at seafood restaurant Phillips Foods.
But where he really found his passion was coaching boxing at the Herring Run Recreational Center.
And that is where he met Davis, with the pair forming a life-long friendship and bond.
It kept the promising boxer off the streets and out of jail - while quite possibly saving his life.
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Davis said: "Calvin, he's been with me since I was seven.
"I used to sleep in coach Calvin's house, I used to sleep at his job. He was working at a seafood restaurant in Baltimore.
"Remember, Calvin used to foster the guys that was coming up with me and they were in the streets a lot, and he was telling them like, 'You can't have one foot in and one foot out, you've got to be all the way in and focussed on the goal.'
"Those guys, they went left and unfortunately they got killed.
"If I didn't have the people that I had around me, the people that started with me and things like that, I probably would have been of the scene for a really long time.
"I think that the people that I started with really keep me focussed because it's not just me fighting this battle it's people that's with me, that's walking with me, day in day out."
Davis was raised by his grandmother as his mum battled drug addiction while his dad was in jail.
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But the man nicknamed Tank found comfort under the guidance of Ford.
He said: "I probably wouldn't be here without him, just off the fact when I was coming to the gym I was getting the love that I ain't have at home, type stuff.
"I was always like, 'Calvin, I want to come to the gym, Calvin, Calvin, Calvin.' Looking for him type of stuff.
"I used to go to school and then from school I'd go to the gym, didn't tell my grandma or nothing. I used to just go straight to the gym.
"And then gym was closed. I used to get out of school, probably three o'clock and it didn't open till probably like 4.30.
"I'd just be outside just sleeping on the front of the gym, just waiting. Police would grab me like, 'Get up.' Grab me like, 'What you doing out here?' 'I'm just waiting on the gym.'"
Davis, 28, is now one of the most exciting fighters in the world, with a record of 28-0, with 26 KOs and titles in three divisions.
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But on Saturday night in Las Vegas, he returns for the biggest bout of his career against superstar rival Ryan Garcia, 24.
Bragging rights, reputations and most importantly unbeaten records will be on the line in the 136lb catchweight clash.
And with so much at stake, there is only one man to lead Davis into battle.
He said: "I knew I'd be big but I never knew that I'd be the guy that actually broke down them doors.
"Calvin believed in me, Calvin believed in me no matter what.
"That's the importance piece of me staying focussed and I know that I have someone that's counting on me.
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"Calvin was always making sure that I was on the track and whoever went against me, Calvin was standing beside me.
"Calvin was that guy that had my back, for sure."
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