Figueroa Heading To 140, Leaves Linares Door Open

By Rick Reeno

StubHub Center, Carson, California - Last night, Omar "Panterita" Figueroa Jr. (23-0-1, 18 KOs) successfully retained his WBC lightweight title an exciting ninth-round knockout over determined mandatory challenger Daniel "Tremendo" Estrada (32-3-1, 24 KOs).

Following the fight, Figueroa made it clear that making 135-pounds was getting too tough for his body and he was very focused on moving up to the junior welterweight limit of 140-pounds.

"No, not at all [I'm not staying at 135]. I'm moving up," Figueroa said. "It's just the weight. I feel that I'm going to be a million times stronger at 140. I'm way more comfortable there and I'll have much better camps."

"I didn't feel as strong and explosive as I usually do [in this fight]. It's just [making] 135, it takes too much out of me."

Also on the same card, Jorge "Niño De Oro" Linares (37-3, 24 KOs) scored a a second-round knockout over Ira Terry (26-12, 16 KOs).

Linares is the next challenger in line for Figueroa's title. With Figueroa mentally set for a move in weight, is a fight with Linares still possible? Apparently so, according to Figueroa.

"If the money is right, maybe I'll go down and do it, but making 135 is tough," Figueroa.