“Sometimes I feel all the weight of my country on my shoulders and sometimes that makes me feel scared to disappoint all my people in my country,” said the 28-year-old from Tijuana. “But, at the same time, I feel so much motivation because I’m part of history right now. I don’t care what happens in the future.
„I’m part of history, and in my country, I know I can inspire a lot of the coming generations to start trying to practice this sport. This journey started just with me and my own dreams. But right now, I know I have the opportunity to grow the sport in my country.”
Moreno is right. Nothing that happens from here on out removes him from the history books, and that’s a good place for anyone to be in. That doesn’t mean he’s not as hungry as he once was as he approaches his first title defense on Saturday against a man he’s grown very familiar with in Figueiredo.
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The pair’s third fight this weekend in Anaheim is the trilogy many never thought they’d see or, more accurately, thought they needed. But after a 2020 Fight of the Year candidate that ended in a draw, a rematch was very necessary, and this time, Moreno shocked the world.
And with the belt changing hands, Figueiredo earned a shot at taking his crown back, which brings us to Saturday night and some interesting training camp dilemmas for Moreno, who isn’t quite sure to expect from “Deus da Guerra.”
