Call it a battle for borough pride, as Francisco "El Gato" Figueroa, fresh from his NABF title victory, looks to represent the Bronx in a battle against Brooklyn boxer Dmitriy Salita.

At the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach Florida , on July 28, Figueroa's round 12 KO that sent Mexican fighter Ubaldo Hernandez (22 wins, 18 losses, 10kos) through the ropes made "El Gato" the winner of the title.

Figueroa's highly intense bout, the first 12 round fight of his career, now ranks him 12 in his weight class by the WBC.

Now, as Figueroa moves one step closer to his world title dreams, the Bronx local may fulfill another wish.

Following Figueroa's late-2006 defeat over fellow Bronx-native Joey Rios Figueroa was looking forward to a match-up that would be credited as the biggest fight of his career.

Brooklyn New York's light welterweight Dmitriy "Star of David" Salita (27-0, 15 KOs) told the press he wouldn't mind fighting Figueroa, who earned himself the title, King Of the Bronx, because he'd proven himself amongst the competition.

Shortly after, Salita was scheduled for a televised HBO Boxing After Dark bout against Spanish Harlem's Edgar Santana, which Salita rejected opting to face Figueroa instead.

However, HBO discarded the offer. Now Figueroa expresses his desire to revisit the opportunity of having The Bronx Gato versus Brooklyn's Star Of David in the headlines for his next bout—possibly for a HBO Boxing After Dark main event.

"I want to defend my NABF title against Salita," explains Figueroa. "I've been anticipating fighting him since he called me out after the Joey Rios fight; He felt that I was a better opponent for him to fight for the HBO After Dark bout he was supposed to fight against Edgar Santana. I'm from Bronx and he's from Brooklyn. That fight would give New York a definite run for the money."

His prediction should he enter the ring with Salita? "I don't think he can handle the pressure that I'll bring to him," says Figueroa in a sincere yet modest tone. "I come in too hard, too fast and too strong. I see nothing superior about his fighting style. It's average to me."

Figueroa is confident that he would KO his Brooklyn opponent and it would not be too much of a surprise.

The 29-year-old Figueroa (17-2, 13 KO's) has not seen a loss in nearly three years, and won his last eight bouts. His dominance has been a true testament to the courage and discipline he displayed against overwhelming odds.

While homeless in 2002, "El Gato" spent a year sleeping in the basement at the Morris Park Boxing Gym. There is no turning back for the proud Bronx bomber.

"I'm very confident that I will be seeing a world title in the very near future," he said. "I'm boxing's best kept secret and I'm ready to prove it!"