WBC super bantamweight champion Luis ‘Pantera’ Nery 31-0 (24) has made changes to his training camp ahead of his clash with WBA ‘regular’ titleholder Brandon ‘The Heartbreaker’ Figueroa 21-0-1 (16) at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California on May 15.
The 26-year-old Mexican southpaw has been training in his hometown of Tijuana before switching his camp to Los Angeles this week.
“A lot has been different in this training camp,” said Nery, who is trained by Ismael Ramirez. “I am sparring against opponents that are very similar to Figueroa’s style. I am running more often. I am eating right. I am preparing in a very conscious manner.
“I have not sparred with anyone that the general public would probably know but I have a lot of great competition with local guys here in Tijuana. They are very tough kids, very strong kids. They are probably stronger than the big name fighters.
“My knockout streak came to an end because I wasn’t fighting in my style. I am being more myself now like I was during my knockout streak. I have been loving how we have prepared for this fight as we continue on the road to success on May 15.
“My mentality is simple: It’s either me or him. I don’t get in the ring thinking of getting to the final bell and potentially losing because of the judges. I am not leaving anything in the hands of the judges. I am going to be aggressive and I will be myself. I plan to win fighting in my style.”
Nery insists he respects Figueroa, 24, who fights out of Weslaco, Texas.
“I have a lot of respect for Brandon, but inside the ring, I am going to be the rudest person he’s ever met,” Nery said. “Respect goes out of the window inside that ring. I am going to do everything to get the win.
“Figueroa has long arms but I have fought against many fighters with long reach before. I have plenty of experience there. I will find opportunities and I will use those to my advantage.
“I don’t care about how pretty his face is. I don’t care if he’s a sex symbol or if he’s someone who is very ugly. To me, bottom line, he is a threat. He is a threat to my career. He is a threat to my future plans. I need to eliminate that threat.
“Regardless of what he looks like or how pretty he might be, I am going to defeat him. I am not underestimating him in the least.”
The winner of the Nery-Figueroa bout is expected to land a unification bout against WBO Stephen Fulton 19-0 (8) on September 11.
“I really could not care less about Fulton being ringside on May 15. He’s a blabbermouth anyway,” Nery said.
“What I am focused on is beating Brandon Figueroa. The time will come to worry about Stephen Fulton. But for right now, I do not care about him.”
