By Ryan Songalia
Francisco Figueroa gazed into the opposite corner after 11 frames of vicious combat at a damaged but brave Ubaldo Hernandez. Entering the twelfth round for the first time in his professional career, Figueroa, cut over the right eye from a series of headbutts, believed himself to be "one or two" points ahead on the scorecards. The average prizefighter would have taken his chances with the tallies, coasting to the final bell to await his faith from the mouth of the ring announcer. Frankie Figueroa is no average fighter.
Experiencing fatigue unlike anything he had previously encountered, Figueroa sucked it up and opened with a right uppercut-left cross combination that snapped back the head of Hernandez. Figueroa sensed blood in the water, following up with a right hook that put Hernandez all but on the canvas with half a round remaining.
It appeared that Hernandez may finish on his feet. Any such notion was quickly dashed when Figueroa landed a devastating left hand that deposited Hernandez onto a rinside table, bringing a halt to the bout at 2:15 of the twelfth round.
So exhausted was Figueroa after the fight that, for the first time this writer can recall, "El Gato" was unable to speak at length. "I felt good," muttered a near-breathless Figueroa as he left the ring, new NABF Junior Welterweight title belt in tow. "Twelve rounds went by pretty fast. The belt means a lot to me. With only seven years in the sport, that's not bad at all." With the victory, he raised his mark to 17-2 (12 KO).
After catching up with Figueroa the next day, he expounded on what we had briefly touched on the previous night. "He was like Superman and Clark Kent," Figueroa illustrated of Hernandez. "He looked like he never boxed in his life with his glasses. Once the glasses came off, he was an excellent fighter. He was very persistent. He threw a lot of punches. He didn't care what was in his way. That's what impressed me."
The "Nuyorican" Figueroa says that he could feel a knockout coming by the eleventh round. "I have a vicious onslaught attack. I knew he wouldn't be able to survive much longer."
Before reaching the ring, Figueroa had to fight another battle, this one in training camp. "We had a lot of obstacles. It was something I had to overcome in myself. Dropping the weight, trying to figure out who my opponent was. A lot of things bothered me mentally and physically."
As he left the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach, FL, Figueroa had completed the metamorphosis into a Florida fighter. Just as had been the case in Rochester and his native Bronx, Figueroa made an indellible impression on his new state of residence, prompting 1600 fans to rise in appreciation, chanting his name in adulation.
"My promoter told me that I had earned a lot of fans," Figueroa recalled. "That's pretty powerful for only my second time [fighting in Florida]."
Yasin Malnik, President of The Seeno Group, says he never intended to market "El Gato" as a Florida fighter. "Believe it or not, it wasn't a goal of mine to make him an attraction down here. To my surprise, the South Florida fans really caught onto him. They love and support him as one of their own. He's become a really big draw down here."
Figueroa's promoter expressed an interest in taking Figueroa to the next level. "I'm not looking for any more small shows for Figueroa." Malnik says that Figueroa's next fight will "definitely" be on TV, with "an option for a Telemundo main event in October." Ideally, Malnik wants to showcase him on HBO and Showtime.
The Hernandez fight would be the last with trainer Eggy Martinez. Filling the void is Buddy McGirt, the no-nonsense former two-division champion based out of Vero Beach, FL. Sal LoNano, Figueroa's new manager, arranged to bring in the future Hall of Famer to help guide the southpaw. Figueroa stated that the door is open for Martinez to play a role in his team, "just not as chief second."
Malnik believes that Figueroa will benefit greatly from his switch in trainers. "[Figueroa] has great reflexes, chin, power, and heart. Buddy McGirt will add world-class level of skill and discipline, which are the only things that I think Gato can really improve upon."
Eyeing the future, Figueroa has a very good sense of what challenge most intrigues him.
"I want to rumble with Dmitriy Salita!" Salita, 27-0-1 (15 KO), has his heart set on facing WBA Junior Welterweight titlist Gavin Rees, although a September date lingers without an opponent. When reached for comment, Salita brushed off the idea of facing Figueroa, stating that he was not interested in taking the fight.
When the new WBC rankings are released, Figueroa will enter in the top 12. According to Malnik, the IBF and WBO are also going to recognize Figueroa in their ratings. "I would like to move him along to where he could fight for a title," says his promoter.
According to governing body rules, any fighter in the top 15 can challenge for a world title. That day is atleast four or five fights away, as Figueroa matures his fan-friendly fame that is becoming more substance than style. In the meantime, "El Gato" continues to convert believers, one fan at a time.
Any questions or comments? Send them to me at mc_rson@yahoo.com
