Super featherweight
In his next bout, he upset previously undefeated Will Tomlinson, a former IBO Super featherweight champion, by way of unanimous decision on March 8, 2014 on the Saúl Álvarez vs. Alfredo Angulo undercard at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. On April 26, he fought Omar Figueroa for his WBC lightweight title in the opening bout of a Showtime tripleheader at the StubHub Center in Carson, California. Belmontes had previously beaten Figueroa three times in the amateur ranks, but lost this one by split decision.