Jerry Belmontes’ WBC Heartbreaker
On April 26, 2014, Jerry Belmontes challenged WBC lightweight champion Omar Figueroa Jr. in Carson, California. Figueroa retained the belt by split decision after twelve rounds, despite one judge favoring Belmontes.
From amateur standout to professional contender
Belmontes won a National Silver Gloves gold medal as a young boxer, later claimed a United States under-19 championship, and reached the semifinals of the 2007 U.S. Olympic trials. He made his professional debut on January 18, 2008, defeating Olvin Mejia by unanimous decision. A long early winning run carried him into televised bouts against established contenders.
That rise brought tough tests. In December 2012, Belmontes lost a unanimous decision to Eric Hunter. He challenged Francisco Vargas for regional super-featherweight titles in December 2013 and lost on points, then rebounded in March 2014 with a unanimous-decision win over former IBO champion Will Tomlinson.
A disputed world-title challenge
On April 26, 2014, Belmontes faced WBC lightweight champion Omar Figueroa Jr. in a 12-round title bout at the StubHub Center in Carson, California. They had met repeatedly as amateurs, and Belmontes boxed the champion closely through a tactical contest. The official verdict was a split decision for Figueroa, who retained his belt: two judges scored it 116–112 and 118–110 for Figueroa, while the third had Belmontes ahead 115–113.
The result drew debate. Bad Left Hook’s ringside account scored the bout for Belmontes and noted that the judges’ widely different cards fueled the controversy. Figueroa retained the WBC championship on the judges’ cards. The Figueroa fight remains Belmontes’s best-known world-title challenge.
Belmontes later boxed at several weights, with the World Boxing Association’s record showing bouts through November 2016. His path—from youth tournaments and Olympic-trial competition to a world championship contest—made him one of Corpus Christi’s notable professional boxers. Explore more stories in our boxing section.
The bout remains a notable example of how different judges can interpret a tactical championship fight. Two scorecards supported the defending champion, while the third favored the challenger. Belmontes had earned his title chance by rebuilding after earlier defeats, including his victory over Will Tomlinson only weeks before the championship contest.
Sources
Article Tags
Jerry Belmontes, Boxing, Boxing History, Championship Results
