Ontario, California – In a battle of former world champions, Brandon Figueroa (24-1-1, 18 KOs) picked up a twelve round unanimous decision over Mark Magsayo (24-2, 16 KOs) to capture the WBC’s interim-featherweight world title. (photos by Esther Lin)
The scores were 117-109, 117-109 and 118-108.
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The first round was close, with the two boxers feeling each other out. Magsayo was using footwork and boxing during the second. He was connecting with hard right hands. Figueroa rallied in the final minute with several punches. It was give and take in the third round. Both had their moments as the fight picked up. It was more give and take action in the fourth. Magsayo was sticking and moving, with Figueroa unable to connect with his best punches.
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Figueroa really picked up the pace during the fifth, pressing and pressing with punches in bunches. Figueroa seemed to rattle Magsayo at the start of the sixth. The pressure was starting to create cracks in Magsayo, but the Filipino puncher was still able to connect in spots and really rallied in the final minute, but also seemed to get stunned.
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In the seventh, Figueroa was connecting to the body and throwing a lot of punches as Magsayo seemed to be a little tired. During the eight, Magsayo lost a point for excessive holding. Magsayo really let his hands go in the final minute connected with some very flashy flurries. A small cut opened up on the right eyelid of Figueroa.
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Magsayo was throwing flurries and moving during the ninth. A bodyshot really hurt Magsayo. He managed to weather the storm. They were fighting in toe to toe action, with Magsayo landing the flashier shots. In the tenth, Figueroa really worked over an exhausted Magsayo, who took big punches to the head and body.
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During the eleventh, Magsayo lost another point for excessive holding as Figueroa was pressing and punching. In the twelfth, they came out firing in close. It was war and Figueroa was doing most of the damage as the round closed out.
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