Figueroa: He’ll Bring the Heat, But So Will I
If New York’s colorful junior welterweight contender Francisco “Gato” Figueroa (20-4-1, 13 KOs) attacks his next opponent, Colombian slugger Breidis Prescott (25-4, 18 KOs) as quickly and relentlessly as he talks, he will win easily.
A tsunami of ideas and stories and plans, the likeable Figueroa says he’s primed and ready to get back in the game with a big win when he faces Prescott in the 10-round main event of Warriors Boxing’s “Miami Warfare II” event on Saturday, August 18, at the MACC at the Doubletree Hotel in Miami, Florida.
In the co-main event that night, Cuban super featherweight sensation Rances “Kid Blast” Barthelemy will face dangerous spoiler Alejandro “Soma” Rodriguez (14-6, 7 KOs) of Guadalajara, Mexico.
The two main fights will also be televised live on Telefutura’s Solo Boxeo Tecate.
“When they asked me if I want to fight Prescott, I said ‘hell yeah! He better sign that contract!'” says Figueroa enthusiastically of the decision to take the fight against the fearsome Colombian banger. “Why not? All my fights are dangerous. I’m a good fighter. Why bother with tune-up fights? I’m young and strong right now. Besides, I don’t care about anybody’s style. I just want to fight. I can box. I can hit. I know who I am. I am so happy this fight is happening. He’ll bring the heat, but so will I.”
Now working with new trainer “Hollywood” Hino (Ehikhamenor) at Trinity Boxing on Wall Street in New York City, Figueroa says he’s not intimidated by Prescott and will be looking to pull off the upset.
“I don’t come to lose. I’m sure Prescott doesn’t care about me. He’s talking about Amir Kahn. But he better be ready because August 18, I’m going to win. Prescott is just super aggressive. Most of his knockouts were in Colombia. It’s a different ball game here. He’s not smart or mobile. He’s a bull. He doesn’t know how to go to his left at all. He throws wide hooks, all power shots. And he gets mad fast. He’s a mad man. But they have it set up for him to win. Eight rounds at 142 lbs. They know he gets tired, so they’re making it an eight-round fight, so he’s going to be able to go harder over the shorter distance. He better be ready when he gets in that ring because I’m very motivated. After I beat Prescott I’m back in the game immediately.”
Boxing is just one of Figueroa’s many pursuits. The ultimate goal of them all is to acquire the wealth necessary to make his family comfortable.
“What don’t I do? I’m a lifestyle coach, a singer, dancer, boxer, actor, model and a motivator. I’m an entrepreneur as well. I’ve been blessed. I’ll be auditioning on the X Factor show after this fight. I’m a self-taught singer. X Factor will be my first public singing performance. Well, my first was karaoke for my wife. This will be the second. I just want to showcase my talents. I’m a performer. I’ve been fortunate that everything I’ve wanted to do, I’ve achieved. If I’m able to go on X Factor and go to Hollywood, that’ll be the start of something huge.
It’s all part of the plan for this athletically gifted, self-described hustler with 1000 dreams.
“I just incorporated my ‘Can’t Stop Won’t Stop’ company and I’ll be using my boxing money to start an apparel line. I’ve always been a hustler since I was a little boy. When I asked my mom for money, she said ‘if you want money, go outside and collect cans.’ So I did. Then I started packing bags at grocery store. Then I got a paper route. I go out and get it. I don’t wait for anything to come to me. I hustle. I’m not a struggling boxer. I do very well outside of boxing. I don’t wait for my manager to call me. I love boxing; it’s fun and competitive. This is like bonus money for me and I can use it to generate a bigger name for my company.”
