NABF light welterweight champion Frankie “El Gato” Figueroa defended his first title defense Friday November 16 against fellow southpaw Noel Rodriguez at the Kissimmee Civic Center in Kissimmee, Florida. Figueroa-Rodriguez 12-round main event aired live on Telemundo.
The Spanish Harlem-born, Bronx-raised Figueroa (18-2, 13 KOs), now fighting out of Miami, is rated No. 12 by the World Boxing Council and No. 14 by the International Boxing Federation. Legendary trainer and former 2-time world champion James “Buddy” McGirt was in his corner for the first time.
“I’m going to close out the year with a bang,” Figueroa said. “This will be my first national exposure. I’m glad to be fighting on Telemundo because I’m Spanish. Next year has got to be my year. I hope to move up higher in the ratings after this fight and get a world title fight in 2008. I’m going to let ‘The Cat (El Gato)’ out of the bag. I know Rodriguez is a tough guy who is going to come hard to fight and try to take my title belt. I’m bringing my A game, though, and it’s going to be an explosive fight.”
By the time the fight happens, U.S. Army veteran Figueroa will have been at his Vero Beach training camp with McGirt for 2 ½ months, primarily because Frankie’s fight originally was scheduled to be held in October. “There wasn’t a television fight available until November so we waited,” Figueroa explained. “I’m still flabbergasted and motivated to have Buddy, a 2-time world champion, in my corner. I want to make him happy and proud. Buddy doesn’t change a world-class fighter; he has me doing a lot more jabbing, something I only really did for exercise, and circling left as I throw punches. I never threw punches that way before.”
McGirt, who has trained numerous world champions, enjoys working with Figueroa. “He’s been doing real good,” Buddy noted. “He’s coming along great. Frankie’s a great kid who listens well and is never a problem.
Rodriguez, fighting out of Texas, is riding an eight-fight win streak, dating back two full years. His most notable victory to date was a win by unanimous eight-round decision against 18-5 Robert Frankel this past April in New Mexico.
“The main reason we took this fight was the need to get Frankie television exposure and fighting Rodriguez in the main event on Telemundo is the way to go,” Figueroa’s manager Sal LoNano noted. “We’re happy that the people at HBO and Showtime will have an opportunity to see Frankie’s talents. Next year, he’ll have a shot at a world title. He’s ready now with a new team that includes the best trainer in boxing, Buddy McGirt. We believe an impressive win against Rodriguez will set-up Frankie for a world title fight in 2008.
“Gato” also is the reigning WBC International Mundo Hispano welterweight and New York State light welterweight title-holder.
New Buddy in El Gato’s corner
Frankie “El Gato” Figueroa now has James “Buddy” McGirt as his new head trainer and the two are working together at Figueroa’s training camp at McGirt’s Gym in Vero Beach, Florida.
McGirt working his corner represents a move by Figueroa’s manager, Sal LoNano, to take Frankie to the next level and into a position for a world title fight by the end of 2008. LoNano and Buddy became good friends during the Gatti-Ward trilogy, when LoNano managed “Irish” Micky Ward, and McGirt trained Arturo Gatti. They worked together as a manager-trainer act for the first time with Paulie Malignaggi, which culminated with Malignaggi capturing the IBF light welterweight title this past June.
James “Buddy” McGirt
LoNano, who no longer manages Malignaggi, signed Figueroa this past spring and he immediately set out to get McGirt onboard. “Buddy’s the best trainer around,” LoNano explained, “plus, we’re like family. I knew ‘El Gato’ was only scratching the surface of his talent; now Buddy’s teaching him. Frankie has a lot of talent but he hasn’t gotten to that next level, yet, where he can challenge for a world title. Buddy’s going to get him there and that’s why I wanted Buddy to train Frankie.”
Friends, Frankie “El Gato” Figueroa, and Paulie Malignaggi
Frankie gained invaluable experience sparring with the likes of Miguel Cotto, Ricky Hatton and Arturo Gatti. “I had Frankie in camp with Arturo when he was getting ready to fight (Thomas) Damgaard,” McGirt spoke about his familiarity with Figueroa before this training camp. “I saw that he had a lot of ability and moved well. But at that time he had a trainer and I didn’t want to mess around. That’s not my style. I’m going to be able to study him at this camp and then I’ll know a lot more about him.”
U.S. Army veteran Figueroa is thrilled to be working with McGirt, the former 2-time world champion and 2002 Trainer of the Year. “Buddy was referred by my manager, Sal, and they’ve done a lot of great things,” Frankie remarked. “He is one of the great trainers in boxing today. Buddy’s a down to earth guy who doesn’t get on my case. Every trainer critiquing a new fighter notices some things a previous trainer may not have seen. He’s noticed what’s been missing in my style and I’m walking a path with Buddy that I haven’t walked before.
“There was good chemistry between me and Buddy going back to when I was sparring with Gatti (end of 2005, beginning of 2006). He’s going to take me to another level. He’s accessing me now and we’re bonding. Buddy can be a joker like me. I focus on training but I also like to giggle and joke, not have a closed camp where nobody smiles. That’s my character, I’m a Gemini. I’m glad that Buddy has accepted me for who I am. This is my first elite training camp.”
Figueroa is in training camp preparing for his next fight, probably in mid-November, against an opponent to be determined by his promoter, Yaseen Malnik (Seeno Group), and LoNano.
“El Gato” Figueroa All In & On Track
Newly crowned NABF light welterweight champion Frankie “El Gato” Figueroa, in a reality short time period, has gone from counseling rebellious teens to tormenting opponents in the ring.
The Spanish Harlem-born, Bronx-raised Figueroa (17-2, 13 KOs), now fighting out of Miami, captured his NABF title belt on July 28, stopping former NABA champion Ubaldo Hernandez in the 12th round. Hernandez’ portfolio includes a win against former IBF title challenger Moses Pedroza, as well as going the distance with current WBA lightweight champion Juan Diaz, WBC title challenger Vivian Harris and hot junior welterweight prospect Demetrius Hopkins.
Figueroa, a 2-time New York City high school champion wrestler who was 14-0 his senior year, didn’t get off of the mat and into the ring until seven years ago, when he took a friend’s suggestion and walked into the nearby Morris Park Gym in the Bronx.
“Wrestling has helped me as a boxer,” Figueroa explained. “It helped my balance, conditioning and determination. Some fans have told me I should be a mixed martial arts fighter with my wrestling and boxing background, but I’m 29 now, so I’m going to stick with boxing. I’m joining a wrestling club in Florida and do it just as a hobby, never while I’m preparing for a fight.”
Frankie responded to an ad for a childcare counselor and worked four years with children and teenagers with behavioral problems. Figueroa grew-up in a tough neighborhood, but he stayed in school and out of trouble, concentrating on sports.
The son of a single mother, Frankie’s life had dramatically changed when he was six, the year he first lived with the Morrissette family in the small Vermont town of Troy, thanks to the Fresh Air Fund. “I lived with them during the summer from the ages of six through 17,” Figueroa remembered. “One year I attended a Catholic school there. It was a completely different experience for me. I became an alter boy, learned to ski, milked cows. I lived a double life. I had the good fortune of having two families. I adapted to changes and had a blast. My Vermont family
is very proud of me. My brother, Roger Morrissette, watched me win the NABF title. I have a brother and sister in Vermont and a brother and sister in the Bronx. I just hung out living in the Bronx; I never got caught up in drugs, or doing something that would send me to jail, nothing. I’ve always wanted to make both of my families proud of me.”
Frankie and Keisha
Due to his relatively late start in boxing, as well as a slap of amateur boxing reality, Frankie’s amateur career lasted only 2 ½ years. He fought in the 147-pound division, winning his first 14 matches, before losing in the semifinals of a national tournament to Juan McPherson, 16-14, and then Alvin Aconta in the Golden Gloves.
“McPherson has over 200 amateur fights and they (USA Boxing) wanted him fighting for them on ESPN, not me,” Figueroa noted. “It was boxing politics. I never had a chance with my style of just coming forward and fighting, going to the body instead of slapping punches for points. So, I decided to turn pro.”
His pro debut was November 8, 2002, winning a four-round decision against Richard Dean at Club Amazura in Jamaica, New York. Figueroa then hit the road and fought in places like Savannah (Georgia), Winston-Salem (NC), Atlanta, Detroit and Sarasota. His first loss was by four-round majority decision to hometown favorite Troy Wilson in Atlanta. Frankie’s only other career loss was in his 10th pro fight to Francisco Rincon (8-1) in Poughkeepsie, New York.
“My first loss was a joke,” Figueroa added. “I dropped him and they called it a slip. Then I got head butted. I don’t even consider it a loss. I got hit with some good shots (against Rincon). My inexperience showed. I had the balls, but my legs weren’t there. He was the better man that night but I’m proud I kept fighting after I went down. I learned a lot.”
Three fights later, Figueroa stopped Hector Alejandro, Jr. (10-1) in the sixth round for the New York State lightweight title. Frankie followed that bout with a 10-round decision versus Maximo Cuevas (7-2-1) for the vacant WBC Intercontinental Mundo Hispano welterweight crown.
Figueroa came of age on 11/11 (November 11) in 2006, successfully defending his New York State light welterweight championship against highly touted prospect, unbeaten Joey Rios (14-0), by 10-round majority decision at the famed Madison Square Garden.
A third-round TKO of veteran Antonio Ramirez (24-14-6) this past March 2 was Frankie’s last fight in New York, at least for a while, because he relocated in North Miami. “I was based in New York State but I was fighting on the road and there wasn’t a real buzz about me in New York City,” Figueroa remarked. “I had been my own business manager and my new promoter, Seeno Group, bought out my contract. I’m living in Miami in great weather with my own apartment and a car. I like it here where I’m isolated. I never was one to go to clubs in New York City and I don’t hit them in South Beach. I am building a good following in Florida."
Frankie, a U.S. Army veteran who has a son named Frankie, III (aka Ian), gained invaluable experience sparring with the likes of Miguel Cotto, Ricky Hatton and Arturo Gatti. In fact, he really enjoyed training camp with Cotto in Puerto Rico, where Frankie has family in Santurce.
Frankie after one of his many his victories.
“After winning the NABF title, I’m where I want to be right now,” Figueroa concluded. “I think boxing all of the time, but it really isn’t my life. I like going on line. I hope to defend my title this year and fight for a world title next year. I’m in all out wars, that’s who I am. I’m a boxer-puncher but, more than anything, I’m a fighter. I like seek-and-destroy missions, but I can play chess, too. I go all out, balls to the wall, all of the time.
“My new manager, Sal LoNano, is going to get me a world title fight. He’s been in this business a long time. I signed with him because of his experience. He helped Micky Ward make millions of dollars and he got my good friend, (IBF junior welterweight champ) Paulie Malignaggi, two world title shots in a year. We really get along well. He’s a funny guy and so am I. I never knew pay scales, but now I just concentrate on fighting; Sal’s protecting me.”
Figueroa is 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. This cat is a fan-friendly fighter who, at 29, is all in and ready to make noise in the 140-pound division.
For more information about Frankie Figueroa visit his web site at www.gatofigueroa.com.
