“I’m looking to bring big-time boxing back to Atlantic City.” Justin Figueroa is aiming for success – And also to impress.

By: Sean Crose

“Yesterday I had my first sparring session,” super welterweight Justin Figueroa said at the start of our phone interview. The 8-0 New Jersey native is already preparing for his next fight, which will take place May 11 in Atlantic City as part of Boxing insiders card, organized by Tropicana. “We’re still looking for an opponent,” the fighter admitted, although that didn’t seem to bother him. Indeed, the affable Figueroa wanted to be just as ready. Fighting is important to the 25-year-old, which is why he regularly finds ways to fight his way up the proverbial ladder. In addition, Figueroa is also someone who loves his work. “I love what I do,” he said over the phone, “I love working out.”

Plus, staying busy means Figueroa can always be prepared. “I’m going to compete as much as I can,” he said. “In fact, when he is not training, Figueroa can be found “watching a lot of boxing matches.” As Figueroa would certainly admit, boxing is nothing if not a 24-hour job. This is especially true for young fighters on their way up the ranks. It’s not that Figueroa is afraid of losing or of falling down the road to the top. “Some great companies,” he rightly points out, “have a record of losses.” Some like Jack Johnson, Jack Dempsey and Joe Louis even lost before winning the heavyweight championship.

None of that mattered to those men — or to men like Figueroa today. “I see this as a lesson,” he said, speaking about the possibility of failure. “I always lose,” he added (though not in professional tournament matches). Sure, Figueroa sees the loss as “something to learn from.” It’s a unique and healthy attitude to have in a safety-first era that can sometimes be boring and lacking in real competition. Indeed, it is Figueroa’s perception of fighting in general that makes him quite a fascinating individual. “You have to be able to fight,” he said, “but you also have to have real charisma.”

Charisma is something the 8-0 fighter certainly doesn’t lack. Figueroa is an easy-going, friendly guy, but one who has knocked out six of eight opponents in less than ten professional fights. Appears on Intramural boxing The May 11 card in his hometown of Atlantic City will give Figueroa a chance to showcase that skill and charisma once again in front of local fans. “I fought in Atlantic City six times,” he said. “It keeps me motivated.” And then some. “I’m looking,” he added, “to bring big boxing to Atlantic City.”