By Jake Donovan
Apparently, it wasn’t an accident that Brandon Figueroa and Stephen Fulton were on the same telecast Saturday evening.
The pair of unbeaten super bantamweights were both victorious in separate bouts serving as part of Saturday’s Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) on FS1 card in Edinburg, Texas. Fulton (17-0, 8KOs) looked sensational in taking out previously unbeaten Isaac Avelar in six rounds, the third win of 2019 for the Philadelphia (Pa.)-bred prospect.
The win came shortly before the evening’s main event, where local favorite Figueroa (20-0, 15KOs) successfully defended his interim super bantamweight title with a 4th round stoppage of Argentina’s Javier Chacon.
Following their wins, the seed was planted by Fox Sports’ Jordan Hardy as to whether or not their wins were a prelude to a potential future head-on collision.
“Of course. If his team is fine to do it, I’m more than happy to do it,” insisted Figueroa, who has now scored seven straight stoppages dating back to Oct. 2017.
The 22-year old has been on a steady climb towards the top ever since manhandling former interim titlist Oscar Escondon last year. From there came knockout wins over Moises Flores and Yonfrez Parejo, the latter earning him an interim title which he hopes to upgrade to a full version of the super bantamweight title.
Also aspiring to achieve bigger and better things, Fulton continues to shine as a prospect-turned-contender. Saturday’s win was already his fifth over a previously unbeaten opponent, including Joshua Greer Jr. who is currently a rising bantamweight contender.
“We've been ready, we're always ready and we will be ready for anybody,” claims Fulton, who bumped off former bantamweight titlist Paulus Ambunda in his previous appearance this past May. “I’ve seen (Figueroa’s performance)… but he hasn’t fought nobody like me before. This gonna be easy for me.”
The remark was bold, especially coming in front of Figueroa’s hometown crowd quickly made their feelings known.
Boos quickly transformed to cheers once the comment was met with a swift reply as to how the younger Figueroa—whose older brother Omar is a former lightweight titlist—would beat a talented boxer like Fulton.
“Put pressure,” Figueroa simply stated. “I can switch lefty and righty at anytime… and I don’t think he’s faced anyone like me.”
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox