NABF light welterweight champion Frankie “El Gato” Figueroa, recently signed to a promotional contract by Roy Jones, Jr.’s Square Ring Promotions, will now take on the unofficial gatekeeper of the light welterweight division, veteran Emanuel “Drunken Master” Augustus, in the opening bout on the November 8 Jones-Calzaghe HBO PPV card at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

Figueroa, 19-2 (13), had been in Las Vegas training to fight his original opponent, former WBA light welterweight champion Gavin “The Rock” Rees, who pulled out of the bout with a broken nose.

Nicknamed “El Gato” because he was the only one quick enough to catch a cat that was a mascot at his original gym in the Bronx, Frankie is now matched against the unorthodox Augustus, who participated in ESPN’s Fight of the Decade against Micky Ward.

“I’m very happy to be fighting Emanuel Augustus,” Figueroa said. “We were having a tough time finding a good opponent. He stepped up and I’m not afraid to fight anybody. He’s an entertaining fighter and together we’ll give fans what they really want to see. The change of opponent doesn’t mean anything to me. I’ll be fully focused on Augustus, execute my plan, and come out victorious.”

The 30-year-old Figueroa, a Puerto Rican-American born in Spanish Harlem, not too long ago was counseling rebellious teens in New York City. He was a two time New York City high school wrestler, 14-0 as a senior, who didn’t start boxing until eight years ago after taking advice from a friend. A U.S. Army veteran rated No. 4 by the WBC, No. 5 by the IBF and No. 15 by the WBA, Figueroa’s coming off of a by 12-round decision against Luis Rodriquez last May, extending Frankie’s win streak to 11 that dates back to March of 2005.

Augustus’ misleading 38-29-6 (20) record includes many fights against a virtual who’s who of the light welterweight division. He has been stopped only three times in 73 pro fights, the last time in 2000 against Floyd Mayweather, Jr.

During his 14-year pro career, Augustus has upset “Sucra” Ray Oliveira and Alex Trujillo, fought a draw with the late Leavender Johnson, and has also been in against the likes of Herman Ngoudjo, David Diaz, Antonio Diaz, John John Molina, Ivan Robinson, Diosbelys Hurtado and Leonard Dorin.

For more information about Frankie Figueroa visit his web site at www.teamgato.com, where you can enter a sweepstakes to win what he’s wearing in the ring Nov. 8 as well as a cash prize by simply filling out the mailing list form on the home page.

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Boxing News Tags: Battle of the Superpowers, Calzaghe Promotions, Frankie Figueroa, Gavin Rees, Joe Calzaghe, Joe Calzaghe vs Roy Jones Jr, Madison Square Garden, Roy Jones Jr, Square Ring Inc