WBC featherweight champion Brandon Figueroa desires to be extra affected person and use his boxing expertise for his rematch with Stephen Fulton Jr. on February 1st.
(Credit score: Esther Lin and Ryan Hafey/Premier Boxing Champions)
Fulton (25-1-1, 19 KOs) feels that he smothered his energy by preventing in shut, seeking to slug in his 12-round majority determination to Fulton three years in the past on November 27, 2021, and he doesn’t wish to make those self same errors once more.
Issues are totally different now than within the first struggle. Fulton (22-1, 8 KOs) was knocked out by Naoya Inoue within the eighth spherical final 12 months in July, and he seemed just like the shell of himself coming off a 14-month layoff to defeat Carlos Castro by a 10-round cut up determination on September 14th.
Fulton rocked within the fifth spherical, was despatched to the canvas, and damage further occasions towards the non-puncher. That struggle confirmed that there could also be remnants from Fulton’s knockout loss to Inoue nonetheless lingering, impairing his capacity to take a tough punch or perhaps a not-so-hard one like those Casto was hitting him with.
Fulton is 30 now and has had a protracted 10-year profession, and he’s not on the stage he was when he beat Figueroa three years in the past.
“I really feel like I pressed him an excessive amount of that I smothered myself. I can field. I’ve different talents that I didn’t showcase in that struggle [Fulton],” mentioned Brandon Figueroa to Struggle Hub TV, speaking about his February 1st rematch with Stephen Fulton.
Punch Stats for Figueroa-Fulton Jr. 1
– Figueroa landed 314 of 1060 punches for a 30%
– Fulton Jr. was 247 of 668 for 37%
“I really feel like I’m going to showcase all the things. I’m going to point out why I’m one of the best 126-pounder and simply go on the market and make a press release. Take slightly step again, be extra affected person, and belief in my boxing capacity slightly bit extra,” mentioned Figueroa about what he felt he ought to have achieved towards Fulton the primary time round.
Figueroa should use extra of his boxing capacity if he desires to keep away from being outboxed once more by Fulton. If Figueroa’s energy has improved, he might duplicate what Inoue did to Fulton by touchdown a tough headshot to knock him out, however it’ll require pace and accuracy.
Figueroa’s final three fights:
– Jesse Magdaleno
– Mark Magsayo
– Carlos Castro
“This time round, I do know what I need to do. I’m going to work on this coaching camp for it. He’s a fantastic fighter. That is my division, and I wish to show that. Naoya is without doubt one of the greatest, and I’m on this sport to struggle one of the best,” mentioned Figueroa on whether or not he’d prefer to struggle Naoya Inoue.
“Me beating him would elevate me to one of many pound-for-pound greatest. I’ve been getting a variety of feedback from folks. Even those that thought Fulton received final time they’re rooting for me now. I’m a really thrilling, aggressive fighter. I do know Stephen Fulton goes to be very well-prepared and we’re going to provide followers a fantastic present,” mentioned Figueroa.
Stephen Fulton’s current contests
– Carlos Castro
– Naoya Inoue
– Daniel Romanuch
