Cineliz Figueroa The Hank Russell Invitation interview Olympic plan

In the Cineliz Figueroa The Hank Russell Invitation interview, the Puerto Rico boxer told me she wants to pursue the Olympic Games before turning professional. She also discussed winning a national title at 119 pounds, preparing for her 20th bout in Florida and traveling because she finds limited competition for female boxers at home.

What did Cineliz Figueroa say about boxing in Puerto Rico?

Cineliz Figueroa began boxing at seven, following her father and uncle into the sport. Her father has been her only coach throughout that time and trains no other boxers. She lives in Puerto Rico, where she won the national championship at 119 pounds this year.

Leslie and the family's boxing history

Figueroa said her uncle Leslie was a national champion in Puerto Rico and that her father also boxed. Neither turned professional. Leslie died many years ago, but his influence remains part of how people discuss her fighting: she said others have told her that her style resembles his.

Although Puerto Rico is home, she spent part of her childhood elsewhere. Figueroa lived in Rhode Island from first through fifth grade before returning to Puerto Rico. Her trip for the upcoming Florida bout was her first visit to that state, not her first time living in the United States.

Training with her father since age seven

Her father has handled all her coaching since she started boxing. Figueroa described him as gentle with her, saying he treats her like his little princess. At times, she asks him to give her more instruction or push her harder rather than hold back because she is his daughter.

She does not see constant pressure as the answer, either. In Figueroa's view, a boxer sometimes needs a push, but a coach does not need to act that way all the time. That balance has been a feature of the father-daughter arrangement that has lasted through her amateur career.

What did Cineliz Figueroa say about her Florida fight and national title?

Cineliz Figueroa said her upcoming fight in Plantation, Florida, would be her 20th bout and would take place at 126 pounds. She normally competes at 119 pounds in Puerto Rico, where she said she won the national championship this year. She approached the Florida opponent as a familiar challenge, not an intimidating step up.

The 126-pound bout in Plantation

At the time we spoke, Figueroa estimated that she had approximately 14 wins from 19 fights. She said her next opponent was 26 and that she understood the woman had boxed professionally a couple of times, though she was unsure how those contests were classified. Figueroa did not treat the age or experience difference as unusual: she has faced opponents who were older, heavier or more experienced.

She said she had trained hard and was confident in her preparation. The move to 126 pounds also meant she did not need a strict diet for this bout. After returning from competition at 119 pounds in Spain, she had already been at the required weight for two or three weeks.

Figueroa flew from Puerto Rico to Florida with her father, mother and brother. Other female boxers from different parts of Puerto Rico traveled for the same Saturday card. She said the fight would be in Plantation and available through a paid stream on MILLIONS, but did not give an exact venue.

Bad Bunny and her walkout music

Figueroa had not chosen a song for the Florida walkout when we spoke. She confirmed that she had used Bad Bunny for a previous walkout in Puerto Rico and said she had watched his Super Bowl halftime show. Music was one detail still undecided for the bout, even as she described herself as ready for the boxing challenge.

Why does Cineliz Figueroa want the Olympic Games before turning pro?

Cineliz Figueroa wants to pursue the Olympic Games before signing a professional boxing contract. She said she expects to be ready to turn pro in about two or three years, rather than doing so immediately at 18. Her priority is to keep representing Puerto Rico, travel and build experience before making that move.

Representing Puerto Rico in Spain

Figueroa had recently returned from Spain, where she said she was invited to a boxing tournament and represented Puerto Rico at 119 pounds. The trip was part of the international experience she wants to continue gaining. She also has represented Puerto Rico in Colombia.

Her Florida fight followed soon after the Spain trip, giving her another opportunity to compete outside Puerto Rico. For Figueroa, those journeys are not a substitute for an eventual professional career. They are part of preparing for one.

The Olympic plan and professional boxing

She said some boxers want to sign professional contracts as soon as they turn 18, but she does not feel a need to rush. Figueroa wants to attempt the Olympic Games first and then turn professional; she did not describe a plan to remain an amateur for another Olympic cycle. Explaining the decision, she put her aim plainly:

I want to do things right.

She said she wants to be fully prepared when she signs. The Olympic Games are a goal, not an achievement she claimed to have secured, and she gave no date for a professional debut.

Why is Cineliz Figueroa traveling for more boxing matches?

Cineliz Figueroa said limited competition for female boxers in Puerto Rico is pushing her to travel for more fights. Despite starting at seven, she had boxed 19 times before the upcoming Florida card. She wants opportunities against new opponents and sees trips such as the Level Up event as a way to gain them.

Finding opponents outside Puerto Rico

Figueroa compared her total with female boxers in Puerto Rico who started later but had already fought 40 or 50 times. She attributed the difference to the number of available matchups, saying there were many more opportunities for male boxers there. She had never fought more than once in a month and wanted to compete more often.

The Florida invitation gave her a bout on a card that also included other women from Puerto Rico. They were not all from her gym: Figueroa said the other boxers came from different parts of the island. Traveling also lets her continue representing Puerto Rico while gaining the experience she wants before turning professional.

Support for the Florida trip

Figueroa thanked the people in Puerto Rico who support her and those who donated to make the flight possible. She also thanked her family and gym, which she said is run by a retired champion. Their help mattered for a trip she connected directly to her search for more bouts.

Who is Cineliz Figueroa?

Cineliz Figueroa is a boxer from Puerto Rico who began training at seven. She has represented Puerto Rico internationally in Colombia and Spain and is a national champion at 119 pounds. Her stated goals are to turn professional and become a world champion.