LAS VEGAS – Usually, a fight is made and then the promoters dream up a marketing slogan to fit the theme.
Saturday’s pay-per-view opener between recently beaten former two-division champion Brandon Figueroa and three-time featherweight title challenger Joet Gonzalez was crafted as if the matchmakers had marching orders to fit the catchphrase, “Desperate times, desperate measures.”
With Figueroa returning from a second title loss to new WBC 126lbs champion Stephen Fulton and Gonzalez proving his mettle in an upset victory on a ProBox TV main event in Long Beach, California, the pair meet in a near loser-go-home match in regards to their return title chances.
“I kind of like the pressure,” Gonzalez, 27-4 (15 KOs), told BoxingScene Tuesday. “It’s been working for me. It’s been motivating me to push myself more in the gym. Every fight is do or die, like this one.”
As he concluded Figueroa’s training session Tuesday, veteran trainer Manny Robles told BoxingScene, “It’s going to be a tough, competitive fight because both guys have their backs to the wall and want to get back on track.
“There’s nothing easy about this fight. Nothing. It might end up stealing the show if you ask me. Based on their styles and their need to win to get on track for another world-title victory – it’s all or nothing.”
In a conversation earlier this year, before Gonzalez, 31, moved on to post a thrilling, heartfelt upset over Arnold Khegai in March, Gonzalez became emotional discussing the stakes of the bout given that he had dropped featherweight world-totle unanimous-decision losses to Shakur Stevenson (2019), Emanuel Navarrete (2021) and Luis Alberto Lopez (2023).
The split-decision triumph catapulted him to this bout against Figueroa, 28, who also lost his junior-featherweight belt to Fulton in 2021.
“[Defeating Khegai] was a good fight – a fight I needed to win to show the boxing public, the promoters and fighters that I’m still here to compete against the best,” Gonzalez said. “I did exactly that, proving I’m tough myself. I knew [Arnold Khegai] was a tough opponent, but it was important to out-work another dog. And now I’m here.”
He expects Figueroa to provide a similar, but more stringent test.
“I’m still the ‘B’ side, and coming onto Brandon’s turf,” Gonzalez said. “I want to show the people and judges that I have taken control and won the fight. I’ve got to take it to him and take his will and win by any means necessary.”
How does a fighter take another’s will?
“It’s about the hunger,” Gonzalez said. “You can see it in the faces of the opponents. I could feel Khegai slipping as the fight was going on. I’ve just got to get him there – let him know I’m beating him and will beat him, no matter if we go toe-to-toe or round and round. He’s going to know I’m going to be the winner that night.”
Robles, whose gym is based in Southern California, knows Gonzalez’s resilient reputation. In this camp, like the one for Khegai, Gonzalez has taken a vagabond type method, conditioning in his home gym, sparring and working out at a former gym in nearby Azusa, California, and sparring talented members of the Robert Garcia Boxing Academy, including Albert “Chop Chop” Gonzalez, in Moreno Valley, California.
Aligning with Figueroa for this fight has infused the former champion with inspired new lessons to complement his action style.
“Brandon’s definitely in great spirits,” Robles said. “We got in some strong sparring, solid rounds. He’s looking sharp and I’m real hopeful he gives everyone what he’s given me in training.
“There’s no secret that he’s a workhorse, a pressure fighter, and we’ve added some things that will be helpful. We feel we have a good gameplan to deal with a pressure, come-forward fighter in Joet. They both fight to please the crowd. I don’t expect anything less.”
Gonzalez hasn’t followed Figueroa religiously, but he’s seen enough highlights to understand who he’s dealing with.
“He looks like he trains hard, and I know how it feels to train hard and come up short,” Gonzalez said. “Unfortunately, things don’t go your way some nights. I don’t take too much away from [the Fulton loss]. I’m preparing myself for the best Brandon Figueroa. because obviously he has those two title losses and wants to win. I’m not going to let that happen.”
Would it be like winning a title by defeating a former two-division champion?
“No, I need to beat someone with a title to be a champ,” Gonzalez said.
Gonzalez embraces the opportunity to open the Manny Pacquiao-Mario Barrios WBC welterweight title fight on Prime Video and PPV.COM, to deliver a message to fans and power punches on Figueroa, proving he’s not finished goods.
“My name will definitely get bigger. I’m motivated. Don’t think I’m done just because I’ve taken some losses,” Gonzalez said. “I’m not going to stop until I get that world title, and that will be clear when I win this one Saturday.”
In comments made last month, Figueroa is prepared to entertain.
“From what I’ve seen watching his fights, Joet is a come-forward boxer and a pressure fighter,” said Figueroa. “He’s got great work rate and great pace. He fits perfectly for my style, because I won’t have to chase him or figure him out.
“I’m very comfortable fighting on the inside. If you fight me on the inside, it’s gonna be a tough night for you. We’re two good inside fighters and we’ll see who’s better and who can capitalize on each other’s mistakes. I know he’s gonna come hungry and ready on a big card. Neither of us wants to lose on this stage. I’m gonna go out there and give it my all.
“The energy is just different in this fight. Everyone wants to perform with a great legend like Manny coming back. It’s historic. It’s my job to open up this card in great fashion. We’re trying to make this fight of the night and maybe fight of the year.”
