Cineliz Figueroa Todd Atkins interview on her pro plans

In the Cineliz Figueroa Todd Atkins interview, the Puerto Rican amateur boxer said she has fought the same opponent eight times because local competition is limited—even though that opponent is two weight classes heavier. Figueroa also told Atkins that she expects to spend about two and a half to three more years as an amateur before turning professional, and explained how her father helped shape her forward-moving style.

How did Cineliz Figueroa start boxing with her father?

Cineliz Figueroa grew up around boxing because both her father and her uncle boxed. She began boxing at seven, spent much of her childhood in a gym and started taking the sport seriously at about 12, after her family returned to Puerto Rico. Her father later became her trainer.

Gloves at home and time in the gym

Boxing gloves were always around the house, Figueroa recalled. As a child, she would put them on and play around. At the gym, she might hit a bag for five minutes, then take off the gloves and run around or talk to people. Boxing was familiar long before she treated it as a commitment.

Choosing to fight in Puerto Rico

After the move back to Puerto Rico, her father asked whether she wanted to box seriously. She said yes and began asking when she could fight. Figueroa had her first bout at 13 in Puerto Rico. Taking boxing seriously taught her discipline and made her understand that getting hit was part of the sport, not something she could dismiss as a game.

Even during the years when she was playing around at the gym, she kept returning to the bag and to running. She told Atkins she has never regretted getting into boxing.

How did Rhode Island and Puerto Rico shape Cineliz Figueroa's training?

Cineliz Figueroa was born in Puerto Rico, moved to Rhode Island at about five and returned to Puerto Rico at 10. She pointed to the weather as a practical difference for boxers: Rhode Island's cold made cutting weight harder for her, while Puerto Rico was much hotter.

In Rhode Island, she recalled starting at BNF boxing gym before moving to Big Six Boxing Academy. Those gyms were part of her early experience before she made the decision in Puerto Rico to pursue fights seriously.

The change of location also meant a different training environment. Rather than describing one place as a better place to box, Figueroa focused on how the climate affected the routine of making weight. Her first competitive fight came after the family's return to Puerto Rico.

What did Cineliz Figueroa say about her boxing style?

Cineliz Figueroa describes herself as an aggressive boxer who wants to move forward and attack. She connects that instinct partly to childhood sparring, when being hit made her want to respond, and partly to years of pad work with her father, who coached her to punch hard.

Responding to punches in sparring

Figueroa said she started sparring when she was young and sometimes faced boys older than she was. Getting hit upset her, but it did not make her want to stop. Instead, she wanted to advance and answer with punches of her own. She told Atkins that taking a punch brings out adrenaline for her.

Her father's emphasis on power

Her father is also her trainer. Figueroa recalled him telling her to hit hard during pad work from an early age. She considers herself naturally strong, but said that quality and her forward-moving habits developed through years of training.

She sees her willingness to attack as a distinction between herself and other local fighters. At the same time, she stressed that she is still learning and improving rather than treating her style as finished.

Why does Cineliz Figueroa keep fighting the same opponent in Puerto Rico?

Cineliz Figueroa said there are too few suitable local opponents for her to compete frequently in Puerto Rico. She has fought the same boxer eight times and expected another meeting, despite that boxer being two weight classes above her. Figueroa wants more bouts because she sees competition as necessary to her development.

Eight fights against one opponent

Repeated meetings have made the two fighters familiar with each other's techniques, she said. Figueroa described the shortage as frustrating: newer local boxers are not always suitable opponents for her, while facing someone she already knows so well limits the variety of challenges available.

The national championship weigh-ins

Figueroa also clarified how she became a national champion. She said she signed up on two occasions, attended the weigh-in and became champion when her opponents did not appear to weigh in. She holds the Puerto Rican national title at 119 pounds.

International competition offers another route to opponents. Figueroa said trips can be announced only a month or two ahead of time, so she continues training and maintaining her weight even when she has no local fight scheduled. She has represented Puerto Rico in Colombia and Spain. Figueroa put her aim plainly:

I want to keep traveling, keep representing Puerto Rico

When does Cineliz Figueroa want to turn professional?

Cineliz Figueroa expects to remain in amateur boxing for about two and a half to three more years before turning professional. In the meantime, she wants more opportunities to represent Puerto Rico abroad. Her longer-term ambition is to become a world champion, and she said appearing on an MVP card would be a dream.

Boxers she follows

Asked about influences, Figueroa named Amanda Serrano and Christy Martin among the women she follows. She also mentioned David Benavidez, Miguel Cotto and Félix Trinidad. Her interest in MVP fits with her ambition to reach a bigger professional stage, though she gave no date for a professional debut.

A fight she wants to watch

Figueroa said she was looking forward to watching Puerto Rican boxer Stephanie Beniero in a December 5 bout and hoped to attend. She did not give a year for that date. For her own next fight, Figueroa said she did not yet know where it would be streamed and would share details once they were available.

How does Cineliz Figueroa balance boxing, university and social media?

Cineliz Figueroa is taking a full university class load while continuing to train. She said her studies appealed to her because of their connection to her daily life around training and athletes, but she did not name the subject. She also uses social media to keep supporters informed about her boxing.

Figueroa said she graduated from high school in May and started university in September. Managing both commitments matters to her: she wants to remain responsible and pursue a future through either boxing or her studies.

Posting does not feel like an added obligation to her. She has enjoyed taking pictures and filming since childhood, and she shares training updates, interviews and fight announcements on Instagram and Facebook. Figueroa believes showing her work online helps people understand how long she has boxed and what she has achieved.

Who is Cineliz Figueroa?

Cineliz Figueroa is a Puerto Rican amateur boxer who began boxing at seven. She has represented Puerto Rico internationally in Colombia and Spain and is a national champion in the 119-pound division. Her stated goals are to turn professional and become a world champion.