By: Sean Crose
“I had my first sparring session yesterday,” mentioned tremendous welterweight Justin Figueroa at the beginning of our telephone interview. The 8-0 New Jersey native was already getting ready for his subsequent ring battle, which can go down Might eleventh in Atlantic Metropolis as a part of Boxing Insider’s card, hosted by the Tropicana. “We’re nonetheless engaged on an opponent,” the fighter admitted, though that didn’t seem to hassle him. Certainly, the affable Figueroa needed to be prepared simply the identical. The combat enterprise is essential to the 25 yr previous, which is why he appears to be like to combat incessantly as he climbs the proverbial ladder. Moreover, Figueroa is a person who likes his work. “I really like what I do,” he mentioned over the telephone, “I really like coaching.”
What’s extra, maintaining busy means Figueroa can at all times maintain ready. “I’m gonna compete as a lot as a I can,” he mentioned. “In reality, when he’s not coaching, Figueroa could be discovered “Watching a whole lot of boxing.” As Figueroa would certainly admit himself, boxing is nothing if not a 24-hour job. That is very true for younger fighters on their means up by means of the ranks. Not that Figueroa is afraid to lose or slip on his means in direction of the highest. “Among the greats,” he rightfully identified, “have losses on their file.” Some, like Jack Johnson, Jack Dempsey, and Joe Louis, even had losses earlier than they received the heavyweight title.
Not that such issues mattered to these males – or to males like Figueroa in the present day. ” I might have a look at is as a lesson,” he mentioned when speaking about the potential for defeat. “I lose on a regular basis,” he added (albeit not in skilled prize fights). Certain sufficient, Figueroa sees a loss as “one thing to study from.” It’s a novel and wholesome perspective to have in a security first period that at instances could be boring and missing in actual competitors. Certainly, it’s Figueroa’s notion of combating on the whole which makes him a relatively fascinating particular person. “You could have to have the ability to combat,” he mentioned, “however you additionally should have actual charisma.”
Charisma is one thing the 8-0 fighter actually isn’t missing in. He’s an easygoing, pleasant man, Figueroa, however one whose knocked out six out of eight opponents in lower than ten skilled fights. Showing on the Boxing Insider card on Might eleventh in his hometown of Atlantic Metropolis will supply Figueroa the possibility to showcase that ability and charisma as soon as extra in entrance of native followers. “I’ve fought in Atlantic Metropolis six instances already,” he mentioned. “It retains me motivated.” After which some. “I’m wanting,” he added, “to deliver massive time boxing again to Atlantic Metropolis.”
