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Brandon Figueroa says you’ll see a stronger, extra versatile fighter when he faces Carlos Castro on the Mark Magsayo-Rey Vargas card July 9 in San Antonio (Showtime).
Figueroa, a bruising stress fighter, gave Stephen Fulton hell in a 122-pound title-unification bout however ended up on the unsuitable finish of a detailed, arguably controversial determination in November. That’s one cause he desires to deliver extra into the ring at The Alamodome.
“I appeared for the man (Fulton) for 12 rounds, put stress on him, and it nonetheless didn’t imply something,” he advised Boxing Junkie. “I must be somewhat smarter, extra affected person. I like to brawl, like to get in and blend it up, to work the physique.
“I simply undoubtedly have to contemplate all the things, somewhat little bit of protection, somewhat little bit of velocity, somewhat little bit of boxing, somewhat little bit of brawling. I suppose that’ll be my subsequent fashion.”
Figueroa (22-1-1, 17 KOs) additionally has a brand new weight. His struggle with Castro (27-1, 12 KOs) is a WBC 126-pound title eliminator, which means the victor turns into a candidate to face the title struggle between the champion Magsayo and Vargas.
One benefit the 5-foot-9 Figueroa appeared to have over his opponents at 122 was pure measurement and energy. May he lose that edge at 126?
The 25-year-old Texan is for certain that he gained’t. If something, he mentioned, he’ll be stronger as a result of he’ll be preventing at a extra pure weight for his rising physique.
The transfer up in weight has been within the works for greater than a yr.
“We had been speaking about shifting as much as 126 earlier than the [Luis] Nery fight [in May of last year], method earlier than him,” mentioned Figueroa, who stopped Nery to win his title. “Squeezing into 122 put quite a lot of pressure on my physique, quite a lot of stress, despite the fact that I made weight. I’m very disciplined in the case of weight-reduction plan and making weight nevertheless it was getting exhausting.
“I’m pleased now letting my physique develop to its most potential. … I haven’t felt this good in a very long time. I really feel robust, explosive. I really feel wonderful. I simply can’t wait to get in there and make a press release.”
Castro is not any pushover. He gave Nery a tougher-than-expected time in a split-decision loss in February.
Figueroa is favored to win, nonetheless. If he does, he’ll push exhausting for a shot at whomever has his hand raised within the Magsayo-Vargas struggle.
He misplaced his title in a struggle he believes he did sufficient to win. He desires to be a champion once more.
“That’s the plan,” he mentioned. “The plan all the time is to struggle the very best. I used to be prepared [to fight for a title] as quickly as I obtained to 126. I simply need one other belt round my waist. I do know doing so will probably be nice for my legacy, with the ability to do it once more at 126.”
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