By Michael "Scoops" Doss
Lightweight Omar "Panterita" Figueroa (14-0-1, 11 KOs) of Weslaco, Texas returned to a hero's welcome after a his big win from Friday night at Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio, California. The contest was televised by Showtime. Figueroa stopped previously undefeated Michael "Mikey" Perez (15-1) after six rounds.
When Figueroa arrived from California on Saturday at McAllen-Miller International Airport, his father and manger Omar Figueroa Sr., a crowd of family and friends, plus a mariachi band was on hand to greet him.
"I don't think it was my best fight, but I'd say it was my smartest fight," Figueroa told the Brownsville Herald. "I really enjoyed it considering I was the underdog, but I never came close to thinking that I had a chance to lose. Ever since I found out about the fight, my mentality was 'There's no way he's going to beat me. I'm just glad everything came out just like we planned it."
