Transfer over Omar, it is Brandon Figueroa’s time

Omar Figueroa Sr. has been a mailman for the previous 23 years. After he finishes his route, he trains fighters. Like many Mexican Individuals, he grew up a boxing fan of all-time nice Mexican legend Julio Cesar Chavez as one among his idols. Omar Sr. hoped that sooner or later, if he ever had a son, he would turn into knowledgeable boxer.

So when Omar Jr. was a toddler, the daddy started to coach the son, who finally did turn into a high skilled boxer. He gained a light-weight world title in 2013, engaged in some thrilling fights and was 28-Zero-1 earlier than struggling his first defeat — a call to Yordenis Ugas in a welterweight title eliminator on July 20 in one of many featured bouts on the Manny Pacquiao-Keith Thurman undercard.

Whereas Omar Sr. was busy molding Omar Jr. right into a future world titleholder, Brandon Figueroa, Omar Sr.’s youthful son, additionally grew to become enthusiastic about boxing.

From the time he was about 6 years previous, Brandon tagged alongside together with his father and brother to the gymnasium. As soon as Brandon began to coach, Omar Sr. didn’t view him in the identical mild as Omar Jr. He didn’t even need Brandon to combat. He thought he was “too skinny” and “wimpy” to be a boxer. However Brandon saved coming to the gymnasium, saved engaged on his craft and enhancing.

Brandon Figueroa’s father and coach, Omar Figueroa Sr., left, did not need his son, proper, to be a fighter. Courtesy Christian Inoferio

“I feel the psychological toughness and the desirous to be nearly as good as his brother is what drove [Brandon],” Omar Sr. stated. “Typically he would spar and get beat up however he was simply relentless. And after some time he began coaching more durable and he was stepping into there with larger youngsters, older than him and heavier. He was attempting to point out me he was like his brother, simply as robust. I could not imagine it.

“I did not pay a lot consideration to Brandon as a result of I used to be so targeting Omar. Brandon wasn’t nearly as good as Omar, even academically. All my consideration was with Omar and [Brandon] needed to show that he was nearly as good as his brother or higher. And what? He did it with exhausting work. That is what I like from Brandon. He is robust.”

Omar Sr. recalled the second he lastly believed that Brandon confirmed the potential to turn into knowledgeable fighter. Brandon was 15 when a Mexican professional — Omar does not recall his identify — got here to their gymnasium to work out.

“He isn’t ‘Omar’s brother’ no extra. He is referred to as Brandon. Brandon is doing issues higher. Brandon has extra self-discipline than his brother. Brandon is interim world champion at 22. I do not suppose he is the little brother no extra.”

Omar Figueroa Sr.

“This man was like 22 and Brandon was 15 and the opposite man was like 15 kilos heavier than Brandon and he had some professional fights in Mexico,” Omar Sr. stated. “He got here to my gymnasium and he had nobody to spar so I stated, ‘You recognize what? You possibly can go along with Brandon.’ I stated if he is beating up on my son, we’ll simply cease the combat. Guess what? My son stopped him. The man stated, ‘You could have a world champion in your arms.'”

Quick ahead to 2019, and Brandon Figueroa is breaking out of his older brother’s shadow, on the verge of massive issues in boxing after taking aside the skilled Yonfrez Parejo in April.

Figueroa dominated their combat and made Parejo retire on his stool after the eighth spherical to win a vacant interim junior featherweight world title.

“I by no means cared about being in his shadow,” Brandon stated of his older brother. “I am the form of man who did not thoughts it. I knew little by little I used to be going to get the place I used to be going to get regardless. I might fairly be within the shadow and put the work in and when it is time to shine, it is time to shine. I by no means cared for the limelight. I look as much as my brother and little by little, right here I’m.

“My brother offers me recommendation — do not be scared, at all times go in there and provides it your all. All the time work the physique, be relentless, be fearless. Being the little brother, I at all times regarded as much as my older brother and took after him and his mentality and the model he introduced into the ring.”

Brandon Figueroa, left, defeated Yonfrez Parejo in April to win the WBA interim junior featherweight title. Yong Teck Lim/Getty Photos

The 22-year-old Figueroa (19-Zero, 14 KOs) is ready to return to the ring to make his first title protection, towards Javier Chacon (29-Four-1, 9 KOs), 38, in the primary occasion of a Premier Boxing Champions card on Saturday (Fox Sports activities 1 and Fox Deportes, 10 p.m. ET) at Bert Ogden Enviornment in Edinburg, Texas, which is simply outdoors Figueroa’s hometown of Weslaco, Texas.

Figueroa stated he does not really feel any extra stress as a result of he is combating at house. He stated he embraces it. That he has come this far regardless of being an afterthought on the gymnasium when he was a child shouldn’t be misplaced on him. He stated that whilst a teen he was devoted to coaching and had “a ardour” for boxing.

“My brother undoubtedly had the expertise, I did not,” Brandon stated. “I needed to work for my place to be even near his stage. However I by no means gave up. The dedication and keenness took me to the place I’m now. I truthfully suppose he is nonetheless higher than me, however I’ve performed the exhausting work, late at night time, early within the morning, that individuals do not see. Arduous work beats expertise and I feel that is the place I am at proper now.”

Omar Sr. is completely satisfied to have been mistaken, and agrees with Brandon’s analysis.

“He isn’t ‘Omar’s brother’ no extra,” he stated. “He is referred to as Brandon. Brandon is doing issues higher. Brandon has extra self-discipline than his brother. Brandon is interim world champion at 22. I do not suppose he is the little brother no extra. I feel Brandon is for actual.”