BRANDON FIGUEROA figures he could be greatest served by not permitting judges to find out the end result of his rematch with Stephen Fulton.
Figueroa feels he did greater than sufficient to defeat Fulton of their junior featherweight title battle almost three years in the past. Fulton defeated Figueroa by majority resolution of their action-packed “Struggle of the 12 months” candidate and superior to finally land a shot at one other unified 122-pound champion, Japanese celebrity Naoya Inoue.
The heavy-handed Inoue stopped Fulton within the eighth spherical in July 2023 at Ariake Enviornment in Tokyo. Figueroa, 25-1-1 (19 KOs), predicted he’ll change into the second opponent to defeat Fulton, 22-1 (8 KOs), inside the gap once they sq. off within the co-feature earlier than unbeaten mild heavyweights David Benavidez, 29-0 (24 KOs), and David Morrell Jr., 11-0 (9 KOs), sq. off within the 12-round important occasion of a PBC Pay-Per-View on Prime Video present February 1 at T-Cell Enviornment in Las Vegas.
“I’mma come to battle, but when the chance’s there, I’m not gonna depart it to the judges,” Figueroa mentioned throughout a current press convention at The Novo at L.A. Reside. “Like I mentioned, final time I did. They gave it to him. It’s all cool, however this time round, like I mentioned, I’m simply hungry, I need this battle. I wanna make an announcement and, you already know, hopefully every thing goes properly. I wanna problem the fighter that he misplaced to – Inoue.
“So, that’s the – the principle focus is, you already know, profitable this battle and hopefully, you already know, getting the chance to go to Japan or possibly make it right here within the U.S. However I’m not trying previous Stephen Fulton. I’m not. We had an awesome battle and, like I mentioned, I’m simply completely satisfied, I’m content material. I’m completely satisfied being right here. That is what I used to be born to do and February 1st you’re gonna see that at 122 I damage him thrice. And at 126, I’mma put him away.”
Fulton scoffed at Figueroa’s suggestion that he would knock him out of their 12-round battle for Figueroa’s WBC featherweight title.
Carlos Castro floored Fulton within the fifth spherical of his first featherweight battle September 14 at T-Cell Enviornment. Judges David Sutherland (96-93) and Don Trella (95-94) nonetheless scored their battle for Fulton, who received a break up resolution regardless of that decide Lisa Giampa gave Castro a 95-94 win on her card.
“Folks be forgetting who I’m,” Fulton said through the abovementioned press convention.” Like I actually can do no matter I need in that ring, bro. And now it’s similar to I gotta simply remind motherf*ckers at this level. I actually do. I solely acquired one loss. Ought to I’ve moved out of that weight class? Sure. Can I knock him out? Sure, cuz he runs in with rather a lot – like he mentioned, he’s aggressive. He’s coming ahead, so it’s just one manner he can battle. And I perceive that he is aware of that, and I do know that. And he’s saying it to us – a technique out. So, it’s some ways I do know I can beat this man.”
Philadelphia’s Fulton fought toe-to-toe with Figueroa extra typically than anticipated once they went at it in November 2021 at Park MGM’s Dolby Reside in Las Vegas. Judges Tim Cheatham and Dave Moretti scored Fulton a 116-112 winner over Figueroa, whereas David Sutherland scored their intently contested championship conflict a draw (114-114).
Fulton retained his WBO junior featherweight title by profitable that “Showtime Championship Boxing” important occasion. He additionally received the WBC tremendous bantamweight championship from Figueroa, of Weslaco, Texas.
“February 2nd, I can be a two-weight division world champ, three-time world champ,” Fulton mentioned. “And that’s the way it’s gonna be. A lot respect to him and his household, although. Like I mentioned, I like Brandon. I like his confidence, I like his power, every thing. And I like what he’s standing for proper now, nevertheless it’s gonna be no totally different than it was [in our first fight]. It’s gonna be no totally different, bro. Solely distinction it’s gonna be is I’mma make this shit look somewhat simpler and somewhat bit extra clear. Similar factor Floyd [Mayweather] needed to do with [Marcos] Maidana and them.
“While you run it again, the primary one everyone [is yelling], ‘It was a detailed battle. He misplaced.’ Effectively, guess what we gonna do the second time round? Simply make it clear, simply make it clear. That’s all it’s. Make it clear and put the stamp on it. Now the stamp on it’s gonna be if I clip him or I hit him with a pleasant shot, and his ass go away. That’s gonna be the stamp. However proper now, it’s all about making it clear and clear.”
