War Lord Brandon Figueroa crowned WBC champion

WBC Press

Lean hard hitting string bean Brandon Figueroa (22-0-1, 17 KOs) won the World Boxing Council super bantamweight Green and Gold Belt, with a body blow in the rip roaring seventh round KO of Luis “Pantera” Nery (31-1, 24 KOs), as the main highlight combat at “Dignity Health Sports Park” in Carson, California.

Just before the first bell rang, Nery jumped into the air a couple of times to enthusiastically equalize his latent bubbling over energy. As we all knew, anticipated and expected, the match ignited from the start, as Brandon came out with power shots. Fire was met with fire, after Brandon had initially kept it at range, probing and uncharacteristically jabbing. Then southpaw Nery unloaded a big left hook and Brandon obligingly slammed punches into his midriff. Nery landed more lefts to the head, while Brandon replied with hard rights.

In the second, Brandon stuck to the body, while Nery came back with more lefts and they engaged in a slugfest up to the bell in this pulsating power contest. At this point Nery was connecting more often. More toe to toe in round three and Brandon switched to southpaw stance. At the start of the fourth, two good Nery lefts to the body and then a powerful left uppercut from Brandon momentarily checked his onslaught. Nery was backed on to the ropes and fought back with effective ferocity. Then two big rights to the head from Brandon.

Interlaced exchanges in the fifth, with both standing their ground. A left to the head from Nery, who then he went downstairs. Just before the bell rang, Brandon connected hard with a left right combination to the head of the smaller man. In the sixth lefts from Nery and replying rights from Brandon and Nery throwing caution to the wind replied with a two fisted attack.

By this stage both of Brandon`s brows were swelled angry red and Nery`s right cheek was mouse shape, such was the heavy bombardment that both were dishing out, with not a step in retreat.

in the seventh Brandon set up the finish with a right to the head and a crunching left to Nery`s ribcage, sinking deep into his body. A slightly delayed reaction to the inevitable ensuing pain, and then Nery went down, pitching forward and got on to his knees, trying to dissipate the searing effects of the blow. But he was counted out by Referee Thomas Taylor, so the fight ended at two minutes and eighteen seconds of the magnificent seventh.

Battered but jubilant that he`d bettered a tremendous rival, Brandon said: “It feels amazing and this is a dream come true. I know everyone doubted me, but here I am with the Green and Gold Belt. It’s all thanks to hard work and dedication.”