Brandon Figueroa to face Mark Magsayo on March 4th

Press Release

01/02/2023

Brandon Figueroa to face Mark Magsayo on March 4th

Brandon “The Heartbreaker” Figueroa (pictured) will meet Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo of the Philippines for the vacant interim WBC featherweight title on Saturday, March 4th, live on Showtime at Toyota Arena in Ontario, California. The broadcast begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and will also feature the return of former unified 154-pound champion “Swift” Jarrett Hurd, who takes on Armando Reséndiz in the ten-round middleweight co-feature. Kicking off the telecast is an clash of unbeaten young middleweights as Amilcar Vidal and Elijah Garcia meet in a ten-round attraction. Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions, go on sale tomorrow, Wednesday, February 1 at 10 a.m. PT and can be purchased through Ticketmaster.com.
 
“Saturday, March 4th will be headlined by an explosive clash of exciting styles, as Brandon Figueroa and Mark Magsayo are sure to go toe-to-toe to secure their standing in the featherweight division,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “Brandon looked spectacular in his featherweight debut last July, and Magsayo has the opportunity to regain his status after losing his title in a close fight last time out. With another certified action fighter in Jarrett Hurd stepping into the ring in the co-main event against the up-and-coming Armando Reséndiz, plus hungry young middleweights Amilcar Vidal and Elijah Garcia in the TV opener, the stage is set for a thrilling night live on SHOWTIME and at Toyota Arena in Ontario, California.”
 
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 in July 2022. The bout was his first since a 2021 Fight of the Year against Stephen Fulton Jr., which ended in a 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 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 championship. 
 
“I can’t wait to get back in the ring to do what I love,” said Figueroa. “I want to fight the best, so I’m very motivated to be up against a former champion at featherweight like Magsayo. I’m confident that we’re going to give the fans a great fight, because neither of us like to take a step back. This is my chance to really show what I’m capable of at 126 pounds and I’m just eager to dominate and prove it to the world.”
 
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. 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. 
 
“Figueroa and I both like to move forward, so everyone knows exactly what kind of fight this will be,” said Magsayo. “My goals are to give the fans the action they love and to regain my place in this division. I’m ready to face anyone they put in front of me. This is a true Mexican vs. Filipino style matchup, and I can’t wait to get back in the ring to perform once again.”