Brandon Figueroa announced himself as one of the top players in a mouth-watering super-bantamweight scene when he knocked out Luis Nery earlier this month to add the WBC world title to his WBA championship.
And in an exclusive interview with DAZN's Spanish language team, he called the success the most important of his career because it proved what he always knew deep down.
"I know that many people doubted me," he said in the interview (which can be found in full and in Spanish here). "That's why my victory against Nery is one of the most important in my career, because I beat a double world champion.
"Because of my face and my physique I don't know why people think I can't fight, but I keep proving that I'm undefeated for a reason, I keep proving that I don't care if they want to send me as a model or as an actor, I like to fight and I've liked it since I was seven years old."
The next step is another unification, this time against WBO titleholder Stephen Fulton Jr. in a contest set to take place on Sept. 11. Whoever emerges from that winner-take-all scenario could also be set for a big title defence at Madison Square Garden at the end of 2021 or early 2022, vs. former Olympian and top contender Michael Conlan.
Figueroa isn't fazed by the prospect of having to prove himself all over again against two fighters who are also undefeated at professionals.
"It's part of my job," he responded. "It's just a part of my job.
"I know it will be another tough or difficult fight, but with all the motivation I think I can beat anyone. I hope God helps me enough because I know this fight is coming harder, more sacrifices are coming but we want to go and win.
"We are preparing for someone (Fulton) who will move a lot, who will be more elusive. I know he is faster than (Luis) Nery, but everything comes together with hard work, dedication and discipline. I have all the resources to go and beat him."