Stephen Fulton and Brandon Figueroa face off in a junior featherweight unification bout on Saturday, Nov. 27 that promises to be must-see TV. must be seen. Ahead of their November 27 clash, here is the TwinSpires Edge preview and pick for Fulton vs. Figueroa.

Fulton’s sharp boxing is worth a look

The prodigious Fulton is going from one tough fight to the next in what has been his breakout year. The super bantamweight standout handily defeated Angelo Leo in his last fight, turning in the best performance of his career so far.

Fulton is a bit of an oddity: He’s slick, but he’s more effective coming forward than fighting on the outside. His fast hands, head movement, and footwork can make him an absolute terror fighting in the pocket, but he has to mix up his strategy against the bigger Figueroa.

Figueroa is a wrecking ball

Size matters in combat sports, and Figueroa has miraculously managed to stay at 122 though he’s bound to move up. Figueroa was in a firefight with Luis Neary, but the combination of his size and pressure allowed him to walk Neary down and stop him with a body shot.

There is nothing complex about Figueroa’s game. He just barrels forward, eat punches, and throws them back. It has been an effective strategy, but he’ll need to show that he can disrupt Fulton’s movement to land his punches.

Fulton’s tact will offset Figueroa’s grit

This bout is like death by 1,000 cuts versus blunt force trauma. We know that Figueroa is tough, but stubbornness is no substitute for defense. Despite what his record suggests, Fulton is willing to fight and utilize his superior speed and technique. While wantonly engaging is suicidal, Fulton won’t spontaneously combust upon contract from Figueroa.

We’ll see Fulton turning Figueroa along the ropes, targeting his body while working behind a strong jab. It’s unlikely Fulton stops Figueroa, but he’s going to have plenty of scoring opportunities and build a large lead heading into the later rounds. Should Fulton be successful in sapping Figueroa’s energy, he can avoid any late-fight dramatics from an increasingly desperate Figueroa.

Fulton’s speed and superior skill will earn him a decision win. This should be a competitive fight, and Figueroa isn’t going to take a backwards step, but Fulton is the kind of talent that won’t be beaten with ruggedness alone.

Boxing free pick: Fulton