West Palm Beach, FL - Fans came for a night of boxing and were not disappointed, as main event fighters Francisco "El Gato" Figueroa and Ubaldo Hernandez fought a 12-round battle for the NABF Super Lightweight title before an enthusiastic crowd at the Palm Beach County Convention Center.

The fight should have been billed a "slug-fest," as the fireworks began at the opening bell. It was clear both boxers were in for a very long night.

Figueroa (17-2, 13 KOs), a charismatic boxer who has had most of his bouts in New York venues, appears to be ready for the big stage. He appeared well-prepared and relaxed before, during and after the bout. Hernandez (22-18, 2 KOs) proved to be resilient, going a full 12 rounds against Figueroa. Hernandez is a fighter who has faced strong competition in the past. He has proved to not only be smart, but a well-conditioned and seasoned opponent.

The exchange between fighters appeared fairly even throughout the match. Both Hernandez and Figueroa were ready and willing to go the distance. While neither landed the devastating punch which would end the match, Figueroa landed several key hits which appeared to have affected Hernandez in the 9 th and 10 th rounds.

Entering the 12 th round, it looked like it was in the judges' hands to decide the winner. But Figueroa was determined to make the last round his best. At the 2:18 mark of the 12 th round, Referee Jorge Alonso stopped the bout after Figueroa came within inches of giving new meaning to the term "knock out," as Hernandez went down and almost out of the ring.

For a few tense moments, Hernanez lay on the canvas feeling the effect of El Gato's closing punch. That sealed the win for Figueroa, and fans celebrated his victory.

The crowd was clearly behind Figueroa, a transplanted New Yor-Rican who was born in the Bronx, NY, and now lives and trains in Miami. El Gato, a wrestler-turned-boxer, began his career at age 22. After only 7 months of training, he won the New York City Golden Gloves competition. Since then, El Gato has indeed become boxing's best-kept secret!