Belts do matter to Brandon Figueroa, enough to where he wants the chance to earn them in the ring.

In the wake of receiving an upgrade from “interim” to “Regular” titlist by the World Boxing Association (WBA) prior to his upcoming title defense versus Julio Ceja, the unbeaten junior featherweight couldn’t help but feel as if he’s already been denied the thrill of victory.

“I like for it to be earned,” Figueroa (20-0, 15KOs) told BoxingScene.com ahead of his upcoming bout, which takes place Saturday evening, live on Fox Sports Pay-Per-View from MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. “I hate having anything given to me.”

The rising young star from Weslaco, Texas—who turns 23 in December—was elevated in status once unified titlist Danny Roman (27-2-1, 10KOs) was named “Super” champion by the Panama City-based sanctioning body who once promised to reduce the number of titlists it has created, but has since relapsed in the worst way.

Figueroa claimed an interim version of the title following an 8th round knockout of Yonfrez Parejo in April, making his first defense in a 4th round knockout of Javier Chacon in front of a rabid hometown crowd this past August in Edinburg, Texas.

Upon landing the assignment versus Mexico’s Ceja (32-4, 28KOs), a former 122-pound titlist, the hope remains to validate his credentials as a force in the junior featherweight division. Many have the bout pegged to steal the show on a four-fight PPV card topped by the heavyweight title fight rematch between unbeaten Deontay Wilder (41-0-1, 40KOs) and top-rated challenger Luis Ortiz (31-1, 26KOs; 2NCs).

Now armed with something more to fight for—respect—comes the necessary motivation to raise his game.

“I know that Julio Ceja will come to fight, he has that Mexican blood and will be coming forward all night,” notes Figueroa. “It will be the fight of the night.

“They will announce me as the WBA regular champion at the beginning. But I feel like once I win that fight, then I will be the champion.”

Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox