Figueroa’s greatest strength is also his greatest risk. He keeps his head in the phone booth, which is exactly where Espinoza lands his most devastating shot: the short, compact lead bean.
We saw Espinoza use it several times to drop Sergio Chirino Sanchez. If Figueroa tries to dig into Espinoza’s chest, he’s essentially walking right into the strike zone for those long-lever beans.
The big question for September: Will Figueroa’s chin allow him to eat those skyscraper uppercuts long enough to break down Espinoza’s body? If he survives the first six rounds, the momentum usually shifts his way.
Neither fighter showed a preference for low-activity fights, which increases the likelihood of sustained exchanges.
No deal has been finalized, but the targeted timeline suggests both sides are working towards the same window. If completed, the fight would bring two titleholders together in one of the division’s more direct style matches.
One of the most interesting subplots in this negotiation, which was first highlighted during early talks in March, is that both fighters are being trained by Manny Robles.
Usually, when two stablemates are fighting for a world title, the head trainer has to choose a side or walk away completely to remain neutral.
There is growing talk that this fight could be a prime target for a Riyadh season event or a big card in Texas, where Figueroa has a huge following.
With Turki Alalshikh showing increased interest in the featherweight and super featherweight divisions of late, the financial backing for a unification like this is more realistic than it would have been a few years ago.
