Former two-division champion Brandon “The Heartbreaker” Figueroa will look to set himself back onto a championship path, this time with a new trainer in Manny Robles at the helm, as he takes on Joet Gonzalez as part of the PBC pay-per-view event on Prime Video taking place Saturday, July 19th at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Following a loss in his last outing, a WBC featherweight championship bout and rematch against Stephen Fulton Jr., Figueroa discussed the thought process of joining forces with the highly-renowned Robles. “I talked to my dad about wanting to get to the next level and said I wanted to get with the right team and grow as a fighter,” said Figueroa. “I’ve been here with Manny ever since and I’m really happy with it and can’t wait to show everyone what we’ve been working on…The chemistry with Manny has been great and I trust him. We’re just going to keep getting better and better. If this is what it takes to get to that next level, I’m gonna put in 110 percent.”
After a narrow defeat in their 2021 super bantamweight unification clash, Figueroa gotthe Fulton rematch and lost his WBC 126-pound crown in February via decision. With his new team in tow, Figueroa believes that the changes in training will help him bounce back from the loss. “I worked my butt off for my last fight, but I’ve been going harder now,” said Figueroa. “You need a great team, and it’s not that I didn’t have a great team before, but I needed something new. I don’t have my family here with me and that’s a sacrifice I had to make. I really love boxing and everything this sport represents and how everything is on you. That’s the mentality that I’m bringing into the ring.”
Although he clocks in at a tall for the weight class five-foot-nine, Figueroa stated that his aim is to regain his featherweight world championship before moving up in weight to a third division and beyond. “My goal is to become a featherweight world champion again before moving up in weight again,” said Figueroa. “We’ve been on a mission to keep conquering weight classes. Right now featherweight is where we’re at and I can’t wait until fight night.”
Despite coming in off a loss, Figueroa has taken no easy touch in his return to action, as he’s set to square off against a veteran contender at 126-pounds in Joet Gonzalez (27-4, 15 KOs). All of Gonzalez’s defeats have come at the hands of world champions, and he most recently turned away fellow contender Arnold Khegai by decision in March. On top of his accomplishments, Figueroa believes that Gonzalez’s style makes him a formidable opponent who should deliver compelling action for fans.
“From what I’ve seen watching his fights, Joet is a come-forward boxer and a pressure fighter,” said Figueroa. “He’s got great work rate and great pace. He fits perfectly for my style, because I won’t have to chase him or figure him out.
“I’m very comfortable fighting on the inside. If you fight me on the inside, it’s gonna be a tough night for you. We’re two good inside fighters and we’ll see who’s better and who can capitalize on each other’s mistakes. I know he’s gonna come hungry and ready on a big card. Neither of us wants to lose on this stage. I’m gonna go out there and give it my all.”
Adding to his motivation heading into July 19th is Figueroa’s excitement to be opening up the card for the Hall of Famer Manny Pacquiao. While discussing sharing the stage with a boxing legend, Figueroa recalled his fondness for Pacquiao’s battles with the likes of Juan Manuel Marquez, Marco Antonio Barrera and Antonio Margarito, and detailed the extra onus he feels to be setting the table for Pacquiao.
“I could never have imagined when I started my career that I’d be fighting on Manny Pacquiao’s undercard,” said Figueroa, whose pro debut came one week after the famed Floyd Mayweather vs. Pacquiao mega-event. “He fought at MGM Grand in 1998 and I was 2-years-old. That’s the first year I ever put gloves on. He’ll always be everyone’s favorite fighter at heart. He’s the people’s champ. It’s a blessing that I get to do this and be around great champions.
“The energy is just different in this fight. Everyone wants to perform with a great legend like Manny coming back. It’s historic. It’s my job to open up this card in great fashion. We’re trying to make this Fight of the Night and maybe Fight of the Year.”
To close out his feelings on stepping into the ring July 19, Figueroa believes that the whole card, littered with champions and surefire action fights, will be a celebration of the sport.
“It’s gonna be a great night of boxing,” said Figueroa. “I think this card is gonna show why we love boxing, and it’s gonna start with me. I just can’t wait.”
