Featherweight world champion ready to welcome Naoya Inoue

On October 17 at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Brandon Figueroa defends his WBA featherweight title against Tomoki Kameda. While not overlooking his upcoming opponent, the American recently spoke at a virtual press conference and made it clear he’s willing to face Naoya Inoue at 126 pounds.

Brandon Figueroa prepares to face Tomoki Kameda

Figueroa (27-2-1, 20 KOs) has been largely inactive in recent times, but his only losses have come against the equally talented yet frustrating Stephen Fulton. Following a lacklustre win against Joet Gonzalez, Figueroa travelled to Liverpool to face WBA champion Nick Ball. The American produced his best performance for several years, stopping Ball in the final round.

Kameda (42-5, 23 KOs) brings a wealth of experience to the ring on October 17, having mixed at a high level, against Rey Vargas and Angelo Leo, while recording impressive wins over Lerato Dlamini and Luis Gerardo Castillo Castillo. Last time out, the Japanese fighter lost via a majority decision, when challenging Angelo Leo for his IBF featherweight crown (114-114, 112-116, 113-115).

Brandon Figueroa welcomes potential Naoya Inoue clash at 126 pounds

Naoya Inoue (33-0, 27 KOs) has hinted at a potential move to featherweight in the future, mentioning the unique style of Figueroa. If Inoue decides to tackle Figueroa at 126 pounds, he would have to vacate his IBF, WBA, WBC and WBO 122-pound titles.

Figueroa addressed the possibility of facing Inoue at a recent virtual press conference:

“Come October 17th, I’m gonna stamp why I am the best 126-pounder,” he said. “Welcome to the 126-pound division. And I’m more than [willing] to welcome him into it. And I’m not looking past Tomoki. I know he’s a great fighter, a very experienced fighter. 

“I’m ready to fight whoever. I wanna fight the best. For me, it’s not necessarily the belts or the championship or the achievements — it’s my resume, who I fought, and I feel like that’s the most important [thing] for me.”

The Big Fight Weekend verdict: Brandon Figueroa vs Naoya Inoue

Brandon Figueroa vs Naoya Inoue is a potentially intriguing matchup. Inoue has brilliant footwork, which enables him to get in and out of range effectively. Everyone knows about his explosive power, which has been seen throughout various weight classes.

It would be fascinating to watch “The Monster” try to close the distance on the taller Figueroa and work the body of the American. Although a talented inside fighter, Figueroa would need to keep it long and use the reach advantage he would have. The American would need to time his punches to perfection, catching Inoue as he came in to close the distance. Figueroa has power of his own, and it would be intriguing to see a matchup between him and Naoya Inoue at 126 pounds.

Featured Image Credit:

Team Inoue