Brandon “The Heartbreaker” Figueroa (pictured, 24-1-1, 18 KOs) will be returning on May 4th, following a 14-month layoff, to make the first defense of his WBC interim featherweight title at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas against former 122-pound title holder Jessie Magdaleno (29-2, 18 KOs). Both Figueroa and Magdaleno come from boxing families. Brandon’s older brother, Omar, held the WBC lightweight title and Jessie’s older brother, Diego, was a two-time title challenger. 

 

Figueroa, of Weslaco, TX, was the unified WBC/WBC super bantamweight world champion before losing via majority decision against Stephen Fulton in one of the best fights of 2021. He has since moved up to featherweight earning two victories, with the most recent coming on March 4, 2023. On that date, Figueroa unanimously outpointed former champion Mark Magsayo to claim his interim WBC status. It was a bloody affair that saw Figueroa sustain cuts over both eyes. “My style is very unique and there’s a reason why I switch stances so much. There’s a method to the madness. People think I just come forward and punch, but there’s a meticulousness to that. I want to confuse my opponent and not give him the same look. I’m a multi-dimensional fighter and that’s why I’m so dangerous,” said Figueroa, who has been training in Las Vegas for this contest.

 

“You have to get out of your comfort zone and I’m out here in Las Vegas away from family and home. I miss my people back home, but I have to do what I have to do. The level of sparring and training here is insane, and that’s what I’m about. I put in the hard work to get results. I can’t wait to put it all together.

 

Magdaleno, of Henderson, NV, will be ending an extended layoff himself, having last fought in April 2023, losing on points to Raymond Ford, now the WBA featherweight titleholder. In 2016, Magdaleno, a southpaw, defeated Nonito Donaire for the WBO super bantamweight title, making one defense before getting knocked out by Isaac Dogboe. It was after losing his world title that Magdaleno moved up to featherweight, racking up four wins before meeting Ford.  “I learned that I have to use my experience in the ring. We learn from our losses,” said Magdaleno, who is trained by Jorge Capetillo. “I always take them as a learning experience. Ultimately it led me to this fight here on May 4th. I took this fight because he’s got the perfect style for what I bring to the ring. It’s definitely going to be an action-packed fight. I like to pick my shots and create openings. Figueroa is an aggressive fighter who comes forward, so it won’t be hard to find him. I just have to stick to my game plan and be smart in there. I plan on taking advantage of whatever stance he uses in the ring. I have to hit him when I get him square. I have to take advantage of my opportunities and that’s what we’ve been working on.”