Sergey Lipinets punishes Omar Figueroa Jr. for round 8 TKO (video)

Sergey Lipinets and Omar Figueroa Jr. both needed a win coming off a loss, but it was Lipinets who got the dominant victory by TKO. 

Sergey Lipinets took the assignment against Omar Figueroa Jr. on less than a week’s notice, but he secured a TKO victory on the Saturday, Aug. 20, Showtime main event at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, FL.

Figueroa was scheduled to fight Adrien Broner, but Broner pulled out of the boxing bout on the Monday of fight week, citing mental health issues. Lipinets was on the undercard and agreed to step up to the main event to fight Figueroa.

Lipinets once held the IBF super lightweight title but dropped the belt in his first defense against Mikey Garcia in 2018. His career stalled a bit in the last two years, having fought to a draw and a knockout loss in his previous two contests. Jaron Ennis knocked out Lipinets in April 2021.

Figueroa also toiled in recent times. He lost his last two outings and was stopped by Abel Ramos in May 2021. He struggled with mental health issues but felt better since receiving help.

Figueroa tried to battle Lipinets head-to-head in round 1 and did push Lipinets to the ropes, but he ate a large number of right hands in an entertaining opening round. He continued to pressure Lipinets but ate more shots than he could dodge.

Sergey Lipinets dropped Omar Figueroa Jr. in round 2 and forced Figueroa’s corner to stop the fight at the end of round 8

Figueroa didn’t appear to attempt to avoid Lipinets’ punches. He tried to absorb them, which proved to be the wrong game plan. Lipinets systematically broke Figueroa down with left hooks to the head and rights to the body and head.

The action was entertaining between Lipinets and Figueroa, but it quickly grew concerning. Lipinets knocked Figueroa down in round 2 with more than a minute remaining, but Figueroa returned to his feet and finished the round.

Figueroa looked confused as he muddled his stance from orthodox to southpaw without rhyme or reason and squared his body up to Lipinets in the process. Lipinets repeatedly took advantage of Figueroa’s poor positioning and bashed him with powerful right hands throughout the fight.

Before the start of round 8, Figueroa’s father and trainer warned him that he would stop the fight if he kept getting hit. Nothing changed, and by the end of round 8, Figueroa’s father called an end to the match, giving Lipinets the TKO win.

Lipinets’ return to super lightweight was a success, showing that he has more in the tank at 33. Figueroa is a year younger but looked spent.

Figueroa fought with courage but lacked the skills and quickness he displayed earlier in his career. If it was his last time in the ring, he can walk away knowing he gave it his all. He was a one-time world titlist, which is much more than most achieve.

Lipinets vs. Figueroa was a tale of two fighters duking it out for more time in the sun. Lipinets came out on top and moves on to the next challenge.