Brandon Figueroa Ready To Showcase Again

Former WBC junior featherweight title holder Brandon Figueroa is looking to move up and gain a new vacant interim world title in a battle with Mark Magsayo of the Philippines early next month.

And, on Wednesday the fighters met virtually with the media about their Showtime Boxing/PBC main event showdown coming in Southern California,

Mark your calendar. 📆 A potential "Fight of the Year" is coming up on March 4th, live on @ShowtimeBoxing.#FigueroaMagsayo Fight Night Details: https://t.co/QIsQEPqj5S pic.twitter.com/GzDAw9SakM

— Premier Boxing Champions (@premierboxing) February 15, 2023

From the Showtime official release

“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.

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.

“[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,” Figueroa said Wednesday. “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.”

Magsayo will be ready

“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 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.”

Obviously, the winner will be in a great position to unify with Vargas (or someone else) at 126 lb. later this year.