Brandon Figueroa vs Julio Ceja Odds & Picks
- Figueroa vs Ceja goes Saturday, November 23rd at 9:00 pm EST
- Can Figueroa firmly cement his place as champion?
- Can Ceja halt the upward rise of the pugilistic prodigy?
Figueroa vs Ceja is a prizefight with the WBA world super-bantamweight title is on the line. The bout goes down at MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. It’s one of multiple championship bouts set to go on a stacked night of boxing.
This is a fight that hardcore fans of the sweet science theorize will steal the show on what is a stacked night of fights. Figueroa has had an impressive 3-0 run with a 100-percent stoppage rate in 2019. Ceja is looking to spoil things for Figueroa in his year-end fight. Check out the odds for this fight and my analysis of the bout below.
Figueroa vs Ceja Odds
| Fighter | Odds |
|---|---|
| Brandon Figueroa | -400 |
| Julio Ceja | +300 |
Odds taken Nov. 22
Though this is billed as a title bout, some fans and pundits are scrutinizing this idea. Figueroa was upgraded from interim titlist to regular titlist in a move that drew the ire of many in the boxing sphere. To Figueroa’s credit, he took the comments in stride.
Even he has come out saying that he felt he was denied the thrill of victory and wanted to earn his belts in the ring. As much as he is the defending champion, there’s some element in this fight here that Figueroa feels compelled to truly cement his spot here. I see Figueroa scoring an emphatic win and validating where he’s at in the division.
Figueroa Scores His Eight Consecutive Stoppage
Pundits believe that Ceja is the biggest test of Figueroa’s young career. The 22-year-old phenom is taking on a proven pugilist with twice the amount of pro experience. Ceja gave former champion Guillermo Rigondeax one of the toughest tests of the former two-time medalists’ career.
Rigondeaux would secure the eighth-round stoppage but Ceja more than gave a good account of himself. Ceja has an 88-percent knockout rate, has held WBC belts in multiple weight classes, and is very much a live dog in this fight. Ceja certainly has more than a punchers chance but Figueroa has so many variables in his favor.
? Brandon Figueroa stopped Javier Chacon in the 4th round to move 20-0 and retain his interim WBA Super Bantamweight Title
— All Of The Belts ? (@AllOfTheBelts) August 25, 2019
Ceja has gone 3-3 in his last six bouts. Though the stretch has been against world-class competition, it’s still a .500 record dating back to August 2015. He is a capable, forward charging brawler but there’s something to be said for momentum and I think the champ has that. Figueroa has the added benefit of coming from a fighting family and has a flawless pro record.
His older brother Omar is a former WBC lightweight champion of the world. Also, Figueroa has a cartoonish eight and a half inch reach advantage. He is riding a seven-fight streak of stoppage wins into this fight as well. These two things in conjunction with each other spell out a rough night for Ceja, in my estimation.
Figueroa vs Ceja Tale of the Tape
| 20-0 | Record | 32-4 |
| 15 | Knockouts | 28 |
| 5’9 | Height | 5’6 |
| 72″ | Reach | 63.5″ |
| Javier Nicolas Chacon, Yonfrez Parejo, Moises Flores |
Significant Wins | Hugo Ruiz, Oscar Blanquet, Anselmo Moreno |
| orthodox | Stance | orthodox |
Figueroa began the calendar year as one of the most hotly discussed rising prospects. He looks to end 2019 as a buzzed-about champion who just solidified their spot. Figueroa stands to make waves in 2020 but he faces a formidable test here in Ceja. Ultimately, I see Figueroa extending his streak of fight stoppages to eight. I think Figueroa puts away Ceja inside of eight rounds.
Pick: Brandon Figueroa (-400)
A part-time writer and full-time broadcaster, Dylan has hosted MMA talk shows Lights Out and Pure Fight Radio with featured guests like Jens Pulver, Roy Nelson, Miesha Tate, and covered some of the biggest MMA promotions like Rumble in the Cage, Unified MMA, and King of the Cage.
