Boxer Ray Beltran can earn a world title shot when he fights Jonathan Maicelo in an IBF lightweight eliminator on Saturday. The result could determine the outcome of an even bigger fight – his battle for a US green card.

LOS ANGELES – Boxers are used to laying a lot on the line when they step into the ring, but for Ray Beltran the stakes just keep getting higher.

Earlier this year, Beltran, 36, shared with USA TODAY Sports the story of his attempt to secure permanent residency in the U.S. for himself and his family, a process which he hoped would be completed by now.

Instead, it is still going, adding extra meaning to the top-rated lightweight contender showdown with Bryan Vasquez at Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on Saturday night.

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“It feels like every fight we are saying it is the fight of my life,” Beltran, who will also defend his NABO and NABF lightweight titles, said by telephone. “It makes me feel very emotional sometimes because I have always had my fight for myself, now there are people sticking their neck out for me.”

Beltran’s manager Steve Feder said that the fighter and his representatives plans to file the green card paperwork within days of the end of the Vasquez bout. If, as expected, Beltran wins, it will be harder than ever for some of the bigger names in the division, such as Jorge Linares and Terry Flanagan, to duck him. Feder hopes that the WBC or WBO would step in and force a mandatory defense against Beltran.

In order to be eligible for the type of immigration approval he is seeking, Beltran must prove to government officials that he is a performer or athlete of “exceptional ability.” For a boxer, proof of televised fights (Saturday’s card is on ESPN), high rankings from the major governing bodies and a strong status in the sport will factor in to the discussions. Beltran is ranked No. 2 by the WBC, WBO and IBF, and No. 6 by the WBA.

Legends such as former pound-for-pound king Roy Jones Jr. have given their support with heartfelt letters that will form part of the application. When Beltran read Jones’ words, which spoke not only of his ability but also his courage, it moved him to the verge of tears.

“We feel we have a very strong case,” Feder said. “This is the time that we need to take care of this for the good of his future and his family. It takes time to put everything together. The process is long and you have to make sure you get all the steps right. That is where we are now.”