Any reason why Brandon Figueroa is not in contention with Inoue?

[Bullrider]

He is for me, simultaneously irritating and fun to watch with that mugging swarm style but he has no defense whatsoever, its going to come down to whether his chin can hold up to those clean accurate Inoue power shots as he is coming in trying to push Inoue around into the ropes.

I understand. But his offense is his defense. And there are many fighters with similar style.

[Bullrider]

Wrong division, but I think it has foty potential if they ever do fight.

Yep. I figured.

[Spray_resistant]

I understand. But his offense is his defense. And there are many fighters with similar style.

on the outside and mid range before he gets close is the problem here with him in this potential fight, Inoue will have no trouble landing cleanly.

[-Kev-]

Brandon Figueroa would get smashed by Inoue. He has no defense and is there to get hit by Inoue’s bombs…basically at will. He’s bigger and taller, and at a higher weight, but he’s just a big target and then he gives up his height advantage with the way he fights.

[Elheath]

If Vargas finally gets stripped due to not fighting his interim for the longest time, Figueroa will definitely be in line for Inoue perhaps as early as next year.

[Malvado]

Because he is in a division above and has a stylistic disadvantage against Naoya?

To beat an All time great you need three things:

-A near complete set of skills.

-Impressive physical attributes like punching power or Athleticism. (Great if both) Also a granite chin.

-The right fighting style. At the top level, any type of fighter can win if they are great even if they are at stylistic disadvantage, but skills vary for fighters in the same classification. (Like let's say two pressure fighters like Errol Spence and Marvin Hagler).

Figueroa is a physically big action packed fighter and skills definitely belongs in the upper echelon. But he won't fair much better than Fulton or Nery. Brandon is a accumulative volume in-fighter with good power that rarely uses a jab as the try to force his opponent to fight in the phone booth. (Not like Chavez Sr who can do both, cut the ring to beat you up if you tried to outbox him while weaving through punches or forced you to in-fight with him.)

It's just isn't enough. It be Crawford vs Spence all over again.

[kiaba360]

As others have said, Fig is now campaigning at 126. It's a match-up I'd love to see. Win or lose, I don't think Fig will be the same after Inoue puts hands on him.

[brettWall]

I see the idea. The question would be if he'll manage to make it an inside fight all the way from start to finish. That's where Figueroa shines and that's where his chances lie. Yes, he's got no defense, but people are assuming he won't land anything on Inoue.

He went on a see-saw close fight with Fulton. That's pretty much the comparison (if we disregard triangle theory temporarily). I see that the main difference is the iron chin he got. He may last longer than Fulton did.

[Shadoww702]

I would love to see it and would expect a blood bath. IMO I had him beating Fulton he threw and landed way more punches and also hurt him a few times.

[Bullrider]

I see the idea. The question would be if he'll manage to make it an inside fight all the way from start to finish. That's where Figueroa shines and that's where his chances lie. Yes, he's got no defense, but people are assuming he won't land anything on Inoue.

He went on a see-saw close fight with Fulton. That's pretty much the comparison (if we disregard triangle theory temporarily). I see that the main difference is the iron chin he got. He may last longer than Fulton did.

You failed to mention his fight with Nery. Which was a see-saw battle as well. Fig's iron chin held up against Nery's powerful left hooks, while Inoue got knocked down in one of them.

Anyways, they're in a different division and I doubt the fight will happen any time soon.