The organizers of the event headlined by Manny Pacquiao’s return to the ring after a four-year layoff clearly put in the work. Figueroa vs Gonzalez isn’t the biggest name pairing on the card, but it promises to deliver quality entertainment.

Both fighters love to fight on the front foot, apply pressure, and never let their opponent breathe. Both throw a high volume of punches while maintaining respectable accuracy.

At the same time, when things don’t go according to plan, each is capable of switching to a counter-punching style. That means this fight may become a battle for territory and control of pace — with both men alternating between leading and reacting.

Figueroa is 28, Gonzalez is 31 — and both are already very seasoned professionals.

Brandon was recently a WBC world champion, losing his title to Stephen Fulton. The slick American counterpuncher remains the only man to have defeated Figueroa as a pro (twice).

Gonzalez has faced the likes of Shakur Stevenson, Emanuel Navarrete, Miguel Marriaga, Isaac Dogboe, Luis Alberto Lopez, and Arnold Khegai.

Both fighters average over 500 punches per fight, with Figueroa even clearing 600. Even when they work off the back foot, they stay busy. Their combinations target both head and body, and their accuracy is quite solid.

Among offensive-minded fighters, average punch accuracy tends to hover between 16–18%. Figueroa lands at a rate of 27%, Gonzalez at 29%.

Their best numbers come in power punches: Brandon lands at 31%, Joet at 37%.

Figueroa has had one fight in 2025 so far — a loss to Stephen Fulton. Gonzalez, meanwhile, defeated Khegai earlier this year.

For Joet, it was a return after a layoff — his last bout before that was in fall 2023, when he lost a decision to Luis Alberto Lopez. As for Brandon, he’s been fighting just once a year since 2021 — the last time he fought more than once in a calendar year.

It may be easier for Figueroa to land damaging shots on Gonzalez than it was against Fulton. Stephen is a slippery, elusive boxer, while Joet — even when counter-punching — can’t go 12 rounds without absorbing some punishment.

Still, in a brawl or a shootout, anything can happen. Gonzalez doesn’t have a power edge, but he hits hard enough that even Navarrete felt his shots. Figueroa would be wise to stay alert.

Neither man has ever been stopped in their career. Not even by the accuracy of Shakur or the relentlessness of Navarrete. The latter bloodied Gonzalez badly but was nowhere near a stoppage.

Given that neither man is a huge puncher, a knockout is unlikely. Of course, body shots are always a threat. And head shots can lead to knockdowns not because of power, but due to timing and surprise. Still, the likelihood of a KO remains low.

This will be Figueroa’s second time fighting at Madison Square Garden — the first was a draw back in 2019. For Gonzalez, this is his MSG debut.

That said, it’s unlikely either man will enjoy a significant crowd or judging advantage.

Above all, this is a big-stage opportunity for both men — being part of Pacquiao’s comeback event is a huge spotlight. But the fight also has major ranking implications — and a potential title shot for the winner.

Figueroa has now lost twice to Fulton. It seemed like he had momentum and could capitalize on Stephen’s setbacks, but Fulton proved to be too good.

Now, Brandon faces a more prominent opponent. Gonzalez presents a tough problem — a solid skill set, sharp accuracy, and incredible physical toughness. Joet is gritty and refuses to go away, even when the fight isn’t going his way.

A Gonzalez victory wouldn’t be a shock, but it would still count as an upset — a result few would have predicted. Joet has lost to the likes of Shakur, Lopez, and Navarrete when considered the underdog. Maybe this time, he turns the tables?