Figueroa vs. Belmontes: Winner, Scorecard and Analysis

In an odd affair, WBA lightweight Omar Figueroa (23-0-1) gutted out a win against childhood rival Jerry Belmontes (19-4). Figueroa scored a split-decision win on Saturday night at the StubHub Center in Carson, California.

ESPN's Dan Rafael has the official score:

It was easy to see how some could see Belmontes winning a decision. But many of the rounds were tough to score.

Figueroa hadn't fought since July 2013. An injured wrist caused him to bow out of a bout with Ricardo Alvarez in March.

Rafael speculated that the injury might still be an issue for the champion:

Figueroa did look a bit rusty, especially early in the bout. Belmontes surprised him by initiating the action.

Known as a light puncher, Belmontes was expected to move around and attempt to outbox Figueroa. Instead, the challenger stood flat-footed early. He got on his horse close to the middle rounds.

Apparently, he didn't get enough done to influence two of the judges.

Jae C. Hong

Belmontes' punch output slowed, and that's likely what cost him the decision.

Steve Kim of Max Boxing talked about the change in approach:

In the lead-up to the fight, Belmontes made reference to a series of amateur bouts he won against Figueroa when the two were adolescents.

Per Francisco Salazar of The Ring Magazine, Belmontes said this during the lead-up to the bout:

"

I see him as the same fighter when he was 12, 13, 14 years old. He fights the same way as when he was an amateur. I just feel that I’m going to outbox him. I can take a punch and I’m in shape. He can’t knock me out. I have great speed and I’m a great counterpuncher.

"

Apparently, something had changed. The outcome of the professional meeting was different. 

Even in victory, Figueroa didn't look great. A third of the way through the fight, Max Boxing's Steve Kim said:

Against a harder puncher, Figueroa may have been in trouble. Belmontes landed some clean shots early, but his lack of power prevented him from hurting the champion.

After this performance, one has to wonder how Figueroa would perform against the best fighters at 135 pounds.

Belmontes made a good account of himself. He showed some solid boxing skills, but he'll have issues beating the best fighters because he'll almost always need the benefit of the doubt in a collection of close rounds.

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