KINGSTON, Jamaica — There are times when apparent misfortune can actually be the gateway to greater fortunes.

For Kemahl Russell, who will contest the 2015 finals of the Wray & Nephew Contender Series, a fracture in one leg ended one sport, but has now positioned him for a potential $2-million payday and even wider recognition as the winner of the most prestigious boxing prize in the Caribbean.

Russell hails from the tough inner-city community of Tower Hill, where disputes have frequently been settled far outside the constraints of a boxing ring, and without any attendant rules. But the quietly resourceful young man refused to allow his social circumstances to limit him and managed to excel in all of five of his chosen sports. Hockey, rugby and badminton were his earlier interests, but Russell’s story pivots on the latter two: boxing and mixed martial arts.

While competing in mixed martial arts, Russell suffered the aforementioned fracture and was told by the doctor that to continue in the sport would almost certainly result in another fracture, possibly requiring the insertion of a steel rod in his leg.

Thus boxing won out, and Russell’s legs have, for the past five years or so, been used exclusively for running, jumping and skipping away from opponents, while his hands do the ‘damage’.

The years of intense athletic activity have given him a fierce dedication to his training regimen, a fact to which he attributes his success thus far, and which he unreservedly states will bring him success on the big night this Saturday.

“I’m sure I will win ’cause nobody trains as hard as me.”

A hard point to argue, given his antecedents. But Russell, like every fighter, dreams of a fight night that will end with the announcer’s voice booming “… the winner and champion of the world…”, and his name rounding off that sentence.

Unlike other fighters in the game, he has no great challenge in maintaining weight, and has no dreams of moving up to the heavyweight level. “I’m very happy as a middleweight. Happy with my progress so far, and very happy with my coaching and management. They’ve all been very good to me.”

And the conscientious former kickboxer is confident his fists will speak loudly and clearly enough come Saturday night to give him the title of the 2015 Wray & Nephew Contender.