By: Sean Crose
The rising 11-0 middleweight Justin Figueroa squared off against the 10-3-1 Mario Gaston Rios Saturday night in a middleweight affair scheduled for six. The bout was the main event of a Boxing Insider Promotion’s card and was broadcast live by DAZN from the Tropicana in Atlantic City. The opening chapter was a feeling out process for both fighters, though it looked like Figueroa, who goes by the name of “Mister Atlantic City,” was clearly searching for opportunities to land a power shot.
He would get his chance soon enough, for Rios went down from a body blow in the second. He was able to beat the count, but then got blitzed by a stinging left from Figueroa. Once again, Rios beat the count. The referee, however, had clearly seen enough. Figueroa got the win while barely breaking a sweat. Now possessing a record of 12 victories against no loses, Figueroa is a local attraction who is close to facing bigger and better opponents.
As things stand, Figueroa may well be the top attraction on the Boxing Insider roster. He’s fought four times in a row on Boxing Insider events, after all, and has yet to meet defeat.