SPORTS SHORTS 133: BRANDON FIGUEROA DETHRONES LUIS NERY WHO HAS KNOCKED OUT SIX FILIPINO BOXERS
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 17 May 2021
Champion Luis Nery was dethroned by challenger Brandon Figueroa by stoppage to win the WBC and WBA "regular" world super bantamweight championship at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California.
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Nery (31-1, 24 KOs) started with a fast pace in this fight and was mainly controlling the fight which Figueroa (22-0-1, 17 KOs) countered by closing in and connecting those well-timed punches.
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In the seventh round, Nery had slowed down and Figueroa took advantage by planting a solid left hand to the body which sent Nery down to the floor and failed to beat the referee's count.
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The judges were split in their scores during the knockout. Zachary Young scored it 58-56 for Figueroa, Lou Moret had it 59-55 for Nery, and Edward Hernandez had it 57-57 draw. The scores were nothing as Figueroa scored the knockout at 2:18 of Round 7.
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With the win Figueroa now has to arrange a unification fight against the WBO super bantamweight champion Stephen Fulton. The two fighters have since exchanged verbal tussles for some time and will settle these heated tirades atop the ring. While Nery has to go back to square one.
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Brandon Lee Figueroa, age 24 years, is from Weslaco, Texas. Nicknamed "The Heartbreaker" he has held the WBA (Regular) super bantamweight title since 2019 and the WBC super bantamweight title since May 2021.
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The 5 ft 8 in (173 cm) Figueroa, an orthodox fighter, had his professional debut in 2015 and amassed a record of 18-0 before defeating Venezuelan Yonfrez Parejo to win the WBA interim super bantamweight title in April 2019, and was promoted to WBA (Regular) champion later on the same year.
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Luis Esteban Nery, age 26 years of Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico is a two-weight world champion, held the WBC super bantamweight title from September 2020 until he lost it to Figueroa last week. He also held the WBC bantamweight title from 2017 to 2018 and The Ring bantamweight title in 2017.
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Nicknamed "Pantera", the 165 cm (5 ft 5 in) southpaw has fought six Filipino opponents and has defeated all of them via stoppage.
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Nery first stopped Jether Oliva of General Santos City by 4th round TKO in a ten rounder on February 28, 2015 at the Centro de Convenciones, Rosarito, Mexico.
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"The General" Oliva was WBF International light flyweight champion, WBO Oriental minimumweight champion, and Philippines Mindanao Professional Boxing Federation (MinProBA) light flyweight champion.
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Then John Mark Apolinario of Maasim, Sarangani lost to Nery by 2nd round TKO at 2:57 on September 26, 2015 at the Centro de Convenciones, Puerto Peñasco, Mexico. "Iceman" Apolinario was WBO Oriental superflyweight champion.
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Next victim was Richie Mepranum of Maasim, Sarangani by 2nd round TKO at 0:41 on October 22, 2016 at the Auditorio Municipal, Tijuana, Mexico.
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"Magnum" Mepranum was IBF Pan Pacific superbantamweight champion, WBU superflyweight champion, WBO Oriental flyweight champion, and Philippine Boxing Federation (PBF) flyweight champion.
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Nery won over Raymond Tabugon of Gingoog City, Misamis Oriental via 4th round TKO at 2:42 on December 17, 2016 at the El Foro Chiapas, Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Mexico and he won the vacant WBC Silver bantamweight title.
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"Tornado" Tabugon was the WBC Asian Boxing Council Continental flyweight champion, IBO Intercontinental light flyweight champion, Philippine Boxing Federation (PBF) super flyweight champion.
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Nery stopped Arthur Villanueva of Bago City, Negros Occidental by 6th round TKO at 1:19 on November 4, 2017 at the Estadio Gasmart, Tijuana, Mexico.
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"King Arthur" was the WBC International superflyweight champion, WBO Asia Pacific bantamweight champion, OPBF superflyweight champion, and Philippine GAB flyweight champion.
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In his 27th fight, Nery triumphed over Jason Canoy of Balamban, Cebu by KO in round 3 at 2:44 on October 6, 2018 at the Gasmart Stadium, Tijuana, México where he won the vacant WBC Silver bantamweight title.
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"JCM" Canoy was a Philippine Boxing Federation flyweight, superflyweight and bantamweight champion.
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Claressa Shields won gold medals in the women's middleweight class at the 2012 London and 2016 Rio Olympics, and became the first American boxer, female or male, to win consecutive Olympic medals.
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Shields is the only boxer in history, female or male, to hold all four major world titles in boxing, WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO simultaneously, in two weight classes.
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These titles include the undisputed female light middleweight title since March 2021, the undisputed female middleweight title (2019-2020) , and the unified WBC and IBF female super middleweight titles (2017-2018).
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For the second season in his NBA career, Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry has held the league's scoring title. Curry led the Warriors’ 113-101 win against the Grizzlies with 46 points in their final regular season game at the Chase Center. He entered the game averaging a career-high 31.8 points per game.
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Washington Wizards star Bradley Beal was second after he poured in 25 points in their 115-110 win against the Charlotte Hornets earlier on Sunday. Beal finished the season averaging a career-high 31.4 points per game.
Above photo shows
Top row (L-R) Nery, Figueroa
Middle row (L-R) Oliva, Apolinario, Mepranum
Bottom row (L-R) Tabugon, Villanueva, Canoy
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
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