Fulton Vows to Stand Strong in Rematch with Figueroa

STEPHEN FULTON JR. PREVIEWS REMATCH AGAINST BRANDON FIGUEROA: “HE’S NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO PUSH ME AROUND”

Former unified champion Stephen Fulton Jr. is gearing up for his highly anticipated rematch against WBC Featherweight World Champion Brandon "The Heartbreaker" Figueroa on Saturday, February 1, in the co-main event of a PBC Pay-Per-View event on Prime Video from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Fulton, who defeated Figueroa by majority decision in November 2021 to unify the 122-pound titles, made it clear that Figueroa won’t be able to bully him this time. “He’s not gonna be able to push me around,” Fulton said. “He’s gonna try, but I’m strong. A lot of people don’t realize that. Being at a higher weight class for the rematch is gonna help both of us.”

Their first meeting in 2021 was one of the year’s most thrilling fights, with Figueroa pressing forward while Fulton countered effectively to earn the win with two scorecards of 116-112 and one of 114-114. Despite the victory, Fulton believes there’s room for improvement in the rematch. “I give myself a B- for the first fight,” he admitted. “I was actually tired after the second round... The weight was tough for me.”

As they both enter the rematch at 126 pounds, Fulton believes the added weight will work in their favor. "It’s going to help both of us," he said.

Fulton acknowledges Figueroa’s strengths as a relentless brawler but feels he showed his ability to adapt and box effectively in their first encounter. "He did well at what he does, but I showed that I can do everything,” he said. “That made it exciting.”

For the rematch, Fulton has added renowned trainer Derek "Bozy" Ennis to his corner. He believes Figueroa, who has been working on improving his head movement and boxing, will bring a more well-rounded attack to the ring. "I can see that Figueroa is trying to work on some new things," Fulton said.

After their first fight, Figueroa voiced his frustration with the judges’ decision, creating tension between the two fighters. But for Fulton, the motivation for this rematch is clear: he wants Figueroa's WBC belt. “I want that belt. That’s why the rematch happened,” said Fulton. "I just have to listen to my corner and do what they tell me to do. I’m gonna trust in my defense and believe in myself.”