On March 4th, 2023, former world champions Brandon Figueroa and Mark Magsayo will lock horns for the interim featherweight title at the Toyota Arena in Ontario, California, on Showtime, in the main event.
The two boxers previewed their upcoming match-up during a virtual press conference on February 15th, 2023.
And as part of that process, Figueroa and Magsayo will aim to inch their way back to gaining the interim 126-pound title.
In chief support, the ex-unified world champion, Jarrett Hurd, will be back in the ring to face Armando Reséndiz, while two unbeaten middleweights, Amilcar Vidal and Elijah Garcia, will square off in a ten-round bout.
Looking ahead to the headliners, both arrived with contrasting fortunes. Last July, Figueroa had a memorable debut in the featherweight division after a sixth-round knockout against Carlos Castro.
Meanwhile, Magsayo had to accept a split decision loss against Rey Vargas in the WBC Featherweight World Championship fight.
Magsayo admits that although he thinks he should have been given the victory, he was able to take away some lessons from the bout and will be looking to use them when he faces Figueroa.
Figueroa’s Comments
“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’s Comments
“The winner of this fight is going to be the fans…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.”
If Magsayo triumphs, he will be aiming to redeem himself from his only defeat to Vargas, provided that Vargas agrees to return to the Featherweight division.
“If I get the opportunity to fight Vargas again, and I win on March 4, I’ll be ready. If he wants to come back down in weight, I’ll jump at the opportunity to fight him. I’ve come back stronger for this fight. I learned a lot from my last fight.”