LAS VEGAS– NABF light welterweight champion Frankie “El Gato” Figueroa (20-2, 13 KOs), halfway through his five-week training program at the famed Mike Boyle Strength and Conditioning in Winchester, Massachusetts, took some time between workouts to talk about his new promoter, Square Ring Promotions, and how his career has taken a major step up since he signed with Roy Jones, Jr.’s promotional company.
“My first fight under the Square Ring banner was last year on the November 8th Calzaghe-Jones HBO PPV event,” Frankie said. “Unfortunately, my opponent (Gavin Rees) pulled out and we went with Emanuel Augustus, who is a very unorthodox fighter. Fortunately, though, I had trained hard and was well prepared going into the fight and came out with a hard fought victory.
“I am now in position for the IBF eliminator bout against (former world champion) Randall Bailey. The winner will get a shot at the new IBF champion, Juan Urango. My promoter is working with Bailey’s promoter, Lou DiBella, to make it happen, hopefully, sometime in April. My goal is to become the undisputed light welterweight champion and then moving up to 147 to fight the big names there.”
Figueroa has been working out at Boyle’s three days a week, two hours a day, for five weeks. After each session he is massaged-out and off days Frankie does light boxing-related workouts at a nearby gym.
“John Wirt (CEO of Square Ring Promotions) is a great guy and businessman,” Figueroa’s manager, Sal LoNano, remarked. “He’s a stand-up guy who is there for us and having Frankie promoted by one of the all-time greatest boxers, Roy Jones, Jr., has already opened up doors in this profession for my fighter.”
The 30-year-old Puerto Rican-American was born in Spanish Harlem, where Frankie was a 2-time New York City high school wrestling champion (14-0 as a senior). Figueroa was nicknamed, “El Gato” (The Cat) because he was the only one quick enough to catch a cat that was a mascot at his original gym in the Bronx. Frankie is presently rated No. 5 by the IBF, as well as No. 10 by the WBC and No. 14 by the WBA.
“I started late in boxing, only eight years ago, and I really didn’t know too much about Roy,” U.S. Army veteran Figueroa explained. “As I grew in boxing, I learned about Roy’s great career and fighting today under his banner is a tremendous honor. It gives me an opportunity to showcase my skills and personality to boxing fans and networks.”
For more information about Frankie Figueroa visit his web site at www.teamgato.com.
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