Brandon Figueroa vows to prove doubters wrong

Confidence is a big key in boxing, and Brandon Figueroa and Mark Magsayo sound confident as the former world champions try to regain supremacy atop the WBC featherweight division.

They’re poised to meet in the ring for the Interim WBC Featherweight belt on March 4 at Toyota Arena in Ontario, Calif. Both fighters say they have the grit to come out victorious.

“I have what it takes to take this fight right to Magsayo and show the world that I have the same power at featherweight,”  Figueroa said.

Figueroa (23-1 with a draw and 18 knockouts) enters this title fight with added momentum. He won his previous fight by TKO in the sixth round against Carlos Castro in his debut at featherweight. Magsayo is no easy task. He has been prepping since October 2022. 

Brandon Figueroa will add defense

“I’ve been smarter in training and paying more attention to the details,” he said. “I’m going to add more defense.” 

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Magsayo plans to bounce back and clean up his record after suffering his first defeat against veteran Rey Vargas. Magnifico had won 24 straight fights with 16 knockouts before losing to Vargas.

California is no stranger to superior boxing. Many great showdowns have taken place in Southern California. This fight will be no different. 

“Everyone knows that I come to fight,” Figueroa says. “Come March 4, everyone is going to see what kind of fighter I am at 126-pounds.”

Brandon Figueroa even made comparisons to iconic clashes between Philippines legend Manny Pacquiao and Mexican warrior Juan Manuel Marquez. 

Coming from a boxing background that started in Rio Bravo, Tamaulipas, Figueroa now fights out of  Weslaco, Texas. He is trying to write his own destiny.

“I won’t let anyone get in my way,” he says. “I’m coming out of the ring as a champion.”

Leaving no doubt

The 5-foot-6 Magsayo, 27, promises an entertaining fight.

 “The winner of this fight is going to be the fans,” he said. “I guarantee this is going to be a great fight.” 

The native of the Philippines has been trying to follow his idol Pac-Man in becoming a boxing icon. Like his idol, Magsayo is equipped with speed and raw power that he hopes to showcase the night of the fight.

Figueroa, 26, will look to rely heavily on his power, heart and training to dominate. He is determined to silence all the doubters and make some noise in the featherweight division.

“People have been saying they’re going to knock me out since the start of my career,” the 5-foot-8 Figueroa says. 

The right handed power puncher aims to raise eyebrows as he attempts to capitalize at this opportunity, “I want to fight the best of the best and keep proving to everyone that I belong at this level,” he says.