Mark Magsayo and Brandon Figueroa are in the process of finalizing a deal for a March 4 featherweight bout in the U.S., sources told ESPN on Wednesday.
The PBC on Showtime bout would feature two of ESPN's top 10 boxers at 126 pounds (Magsayo is No. 6 while Figueroa is No. 10).
Figueroa (23-1-1, 18 KOs) was in talks to meet Stephen Fulton in a rematch after the WBC ordered the matchup for its interim featherweight title. But with Fulton in talks to meet Naoya Inoue in Japan at 122 pounds, Figueroa is now slated to fight Magsayo in a battle of former champions that shapes up as a slugfest.
Figueroa, a volume-puncher from Weslaco, Texas, lost his 122-pound title via majority decision in a unification bout against Fulton that was one of the best action fights of 2021. The 26-year-old moved up to 126 pounds afterward with a sixth-round TKO of Carlos Castro in June.
Magsayo (24-1, 16 KOs) won his first title in January with a major upset, a majority-decision victory over longtime featherweight champion Gary Russell Jr. Magsayo lost the 126-pound title in July to Rey Vargas via split decision in a grueling fight (he floored Vargas in Round 9.)
The 27-year-old Filipino is promoted by countryman Manny Pacquiao, one of boxing's all-time greats.
ESPN Deportes' Salvador Rodriguez first reported that the fight was in talks.
Last edited by Ruthless-RKO on 02 Mar 2023, 07:22, edited 6 times in total.
In a matchup of all-action, high-powered former world champions, hard-hitting star Brandon “The Heartbreaker” Figueroa will meet Filipino sensation Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo for the vacant Interim WBC Featherweight Title on Saturday, March 4 live on SHOWTIME from Toyota Arena in Ontario, Calif. topping a Premier Boxing Champions event.
The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and will also feature the return of former unified world champion “Swift” Jarrett Hurd as he takes on the power-punching Armando Resendiz in the 10-round middleweight co-main event. Kicking off the telecast is an intriguing clash of unbeaten young middleweights as Amilcar Vidal and Elijah Garcia meet in a 10-round attraction.
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions, go on sale tomorrow, Tuesday, January 31 at 10 a.m. PT and can be purchased through Ticketmaster.com.
The 26-year-old Figueroa (22-1-1, 17 KOs) was dynamic in his 126-pound debut, swarming and dominating Carlos Castro on his way to a sixth-round TKO on SHOWTIME in July 2021. The bout was his first since a 2021 Fight of the Year against Stephen Fulton Jr., which some observers thought ended in controversy after the majority decision loss for Figueroa. A native of Weslaco, Texas, Figueroa’s relentless pressure and youthful enthusiasm helped him become the first person to defeat former division champion Luis Nery in their championship clash on SHOWTIME prior to the Fulton fight. Figueroa added to his family’s legacy by capturing the WBC 122-pound world title against Nery, joining his brother Omar Figueroa Jr., who previously held the WBC lightweight world championship.
The Philippines’ Magsayo (24-1, 16 KOs) became the latest champion from the boxing-rich nation in January 2022 when he outpointed boxing’s then longest-reigning male world champion Gary Russell Jr. to capture the 126-pound title on SHOWTIME. Magsayo will look to move closer to regaining that title on March 4, after he lost a narrow split-decision to Rey Vargas last July, despite dropping Vargas in round nine. The 27-year-old earned his first title opportunity by knocking out former champion Julio Ceja in the 10th round of a fight he trailed on the scorecards in August 2021. Magsayo is trained by Freddie Roach in Southern California and owns 12-round decision victories over Shoto Hayashi and Ramiro Robles, in addition to a sixth-round stoppage of former title challenger Chris Avalos.
The 32-year-old Hurd (24-2, 16 KOs) unified the WBA and IBF 154-pound titles in 2018, dropping longtime champion Erislandy Lara in the final round to win a close decision in a fight that was the consensus 2018 Fight of the Year. The Accokeek, Md., native would go on to lose the titles in one of 2019’s best fights, dropping a decision to Julian Williams. Hurd first became champion in February 2017 when he stopped former champion Tony Harrison in the ninth round, before defending the title against another former champion in Austin Trout. Hurd will return to the ring having most recently dropped a narrow split-decision against tricky veteran Luis Arias in June 2021.
Reséndiz (13-1, 9 KOs) made a successful U.S. debut in April 2021, entering the fight with an eight-bout knockout streak before earning a decision victory over Quilisto Madera. A 23-year-old native of Nayarit, Mexico, he now fights out of Los Angeles and is trained by top trainer Robles. After dropping a decision to veteran Marcos Hernandez in September 2021, he returned this October to dominate Heber Rondon on his way to a second-round stoppage.
Born in Montevideo, Uruguay, Vidal (16-0, 12 KOs) now fights out of Las Vegas under the guidance of top trainer Bob Santos. The 26-year-old put together an impressive streak between November 2019 and November 2020, defeating three previously unbeaten fighters in a row, as he knocked out Zach Prieto on SHOBOX: The New Generation®, Leopoldo Reyna and Edward Ortiz. Vidal followed that up with a decision victory over veteran contender Immanuwel Aleem in July 2021 on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING, and has added three more triumphs since then, including most recently winning a unanimous decision over Gabriel Omar Diaz last July.
Fighting out of Phoenix, Arizona, Garcia (13-0, 11 KOs) closed out 2022 in December with his fourth victory of the year, a second round KO of Cruse Stewart that streamed live on the SHOWTIME Sports YouTube channel and SHOWTIME Boxing Facebook page. The 19-year-old has moved fast since turning pro in 2020 establishing himself as a rising prospect by knocking out his first six opponents and five of his last six.
All-action former world champions Brandon “The Heartbreaker” Figueroa and Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo previewed their showdown for the vacant Interim WBC Featherweight Title during a virtual press conference Wednesday before they step into the ring on Saturday, March 4 live on SHOWTIME from Toyota Arena in Ontario, Calif., topping a Premier Boxing Champions event.
The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® telecast begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and will see former unified world champion “Swift” Jarrett Hurd return to action against the power-punching Armando Reséndiz in the 10-round middleweight co-main event, while unbeaten young middleweights Amilcar Vidal and Elijah Garcia meet in a 10-round showdown that kicks off the telecast.
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions, are on sale now and can be purchased through Ticketmaster.com. Figueroa and Magsayo will each look to move one step closer to regaining championship status by capturing the interim 126-pound title on March 4.
Figueroa debuted at featherweight with a scintillating knockout last July after an impressive run at 122-pounds, while Magsayo looks to bounce back after dropping the WBC Featherweight World Championship via split decision against Rey Vargas on that same card in July.
Here is what the fighters had to say Wednesday:
BRANDON FIGUEROA
“[Mark] Magsayo is an amazing fighter and I expect a lot from him. I’ve been in Las Vegas for over a month and things are going great. Magsayo is a strong fighter, but I’m a strong fighter as well. I have what it takes to take this fight right to him and show the world that I have the same power at featherweight.
“Everyone knows that I come to fight. Come March 4, everyone is going to see what kind of fighter I am at 126-pounds.
“I know exactly what I’m doing when I fight inside the pocket. When I’m inside, I’m really comfortable and I know how to work. I can let my body shots off from there. We’ve worked on a lot of things though, because I know Magsayo is a heavy hitter like me.
“As fans expected from Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez, this is going to be an amazing fight. We both have the heart of a lion and we’re both trying to become champions again. I won’t let anyone get in my way. I’m coming out of the ring as a champion."
MARK MAGSAYO
“The winner of this fight is going to be the fans. I’m coming back stronger than ever.
“I’ve been training since October for this fight and it’s been great. I’ve been doing a lot of rounds in sparring. This is going to be a great fight.
“I learned from my last fight that I needed to adjust for a fighter with a reach advantage like Rey Vargas. I really thought I won the fight, but I respect the judges. I’m coming to use my power and damage and hit Figueroa hard.
“I want to thank Freddie Roach for everything I learned from him. Now having Marvin Somodio as my trainer. He is a great trainer and we understand each other.
“I guarantee that this is going to be a great fight. [Brandon] Figueroa is strong and always comes forward. But I’m strong too and that’s going to make this fight one you don’t want to miss."
Magsayo’s Promoter On Figueroa Fight: "Someone’s Getting Knocked Out; Won’t Be Magsayo"
“I think you can expect someone getting knocked out, and it’s not gonna be Mark Magsayo,” Gibbons stated during a virtual press conference recently. “Mark brings so much athleticism, power, speed. He’s the full package, and Brandon’s style just complements everything Mark does. So, it’s similar to when you watched Manny Pacquiao, with the speed, the feet, the movement, box around Marquez, Morales, all those guys.
“That’s what you’re gonna see with Mark Magsayo [on] March 4th, just a clinic. Mark is hitting his stride. He’s perfect, where he needs to be. And like you said, he's fighting a guy that wants to come to fight. I can tell you, it’s just gonna be, you know, it’s gonna be bombs away. And it’s only gonna be one winner, and that’s gonna be Mark Magsayo.”
Press Release | Three Fight Countdown Show To Be Streamed on Showtime Portals
A jam-packed lineup featuring a former title challenger and U.S. Olympian, a top prospect in his toughest test to date and an emerging unbeaten super lightweight will highlight the Showtime Boxing Countdown live streaming presentation this Saturday, March 4 in a Premier Boxing Champions event from Toyota Arena in Ontario, Calif.
Super welterweight contender Terrell Gausha will top the action in a 10-round showdown against once-beaten Brandyn Lynch that streams live on the Showtime Sports YouTube channel and SHOWTIME Boxing Facebook page. The lineup kicks off at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT and is hosted by award-winning MORNING KOMBAT live digital talk show hosts Luke Thomas and Brian Campbell.
Also featured in the ring will be sensational rising prospect Travon Marshall stepping up in competition to face the veteran Justin DeLoach Dock in an eight-round welterweight clash, plus unbeaten super lightweight Enriko Gogokhia duels Samuel Teah in the 8/10-round opener.
The live streaming fights will precede the Showtime Championship Boxing telecast at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT headlined by all-action former world champions Brandon “The Heartbreaker” Figueroa and Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo meeting for the vacant Interim WBC Featherweight Title.
A member of the 2012 U.S. Olympic team, Gausha (22-3-1, 11 KOs) was born in Cleveland, Ohio but now fights out of Encino, Calif. The 35-year-old has faced tough competition throughout his career, having fought former champion Austin Trout to a draw in 2019 in addition to decision losses against former champion Erislandy Lara and top contender Erickson Lubin. Following a KO of Jamontay Clark in March 2021, Gausha most recently lost a decision to Tim Tszyu last year after dropping Tszyu in round one. He will take on the 31-year-old Lynch (12-1-1, 9 KOs), a native of New Jersey who now resides in Los Angeles. Lynch is unbeaten since after his third pro fight, having avenged his only other blemish by winning a unanimous decision over Marcos Hernandez in May 2022 following a draw in their first matchup.
At just 22-years-old, Marshall (7-0, 6 KOs) has quickly shown the skill, power and poise to become a highly regarded prospect in just seven fights. Born in Landover, Md., and now fighting out of Capitol Heights, Md., Marshall is trained by former contender Andrew Council and made a strong 2023 debut in January by stopping Shawn West in one round. He will be opposed by Augusta, Georgia’s DeLoach Dock (19-5, 10 KOs), a veteran who owns victories over previously unbeaten fighters Domonique Dolton, Livan Navarro, Junior Castillo and Dillon Cook. He’s faced top competition at 154 and 147 pounds, having battled former unified champion Jeison Rosario and most recently welterweight contender Eimantas Stanionis in November 2020.
Gogokhia (13-0-2, 8 KOs) will return to the ring after two 2022 clashes against fellow unbeaten Kent Cruz that both ended in draws. A 31-year-old former kickboxing pro, Gogokhia originally hails from Zigdidi, Georgia and now resides stateside in Woodland Hills, Calif. He takes on Liberia’s Teah (18-4-1, 8 KOs), who most recently scored a first-round knockout of Larry Fryers in September 2019. Now residing in Philadelphia, Teah owns victories over current 130-pound world champion O’Shaquie Foster and super lightweight contender Kenneth Sims Jr.
The non-televised undercard will also include Dallas-native Miguel Hernandez (6-0, 6 KOs) in a six-round middleweight fight taking on Dario Guerrero (1-3-1) and unbeaten featherweight Albert Gonzalez (3-0, 1 KO) facing Joseph Cruz (3-5, 1 KO) in a six-round showdown.
Rounding out the action is undefeated lightweight prospect Anthony Cuba in a six-round lightweight duel against Florida’s Darel Harris and unbeaten super middleweight prospect Daniel Blancas battling Kansas’ Kynndale Prather in a four-round attraction.
brandon is slow, clumsy, and easy to hit...........but his name really rings true, with his size and strength and endless energy he brreaks dudes hearts
I remember watching Magsayo/Avalos, a long time ago and initially dismissed Magsayo because he struggled mightly against Avalos' bootleg pressure. Not that Avalos didn't have insane heart that night, but his chin was pretty much gone at the time of their fight. This is a great fight because of Magsayo's raw power and strength, but if he hasn't improved from the Avalos fight, Figueroa could easily overwhelm Magsayo in the mid rounds.
If Figueroa isn't phased by Magsayo's power, then Magsayo is getting stopped.
good fight between vidal and garcia so far, garcia pushing vidal back and working more , but vidal scoring with a lot of those short uppercuts, and garcia's nose is showing the effects
wow! sudden end as garcia hurts vidal with a right hook, then pounds him into the canvas with a series of shots. vidal had just been landing well right before that
Introducing walk-ins with enthusiasm and 1 minute later officially introducing the fighters is such a modern day waste of time. Feels like something an ego like Buffer would have started.
i dunno, a lot of people rave about brandon's fights, but i find the way he applies he volume to not be so enjoyable. lots of wrestling and holding while punching, each guy too smothered
good on brandon assisting her with her onlyfans, what a champ, helping dudes get off to sis