Boxing Results: Mark Magsayo Loses Challenge for WBC Title

March 4, 2023, must be the darkest day for Filipinos who love boxing. Our proud boxing star, Mark Magsayo, lost. And Loses to Rey Vargas and the WBC title challenge.

Filipino Mark Magsayo vs Brandon Figueroa at featherweight boxing fights on March 4, 2023, at the Toyota Arena in Ontario, California, United States of America. he judges unanimously decided that Figueroa won with scores of 118-108, 117-109, and 117-109. In the end, Filipino Mark Magsayo lost the bout, leaving Brandon Figueroa as the new interim WBC Featherweight Champion.

Another scorecard from Boxing Junkie had the match closer, with Figueroa winning seven rounds to five, 115-111. Figueroa's victory means he is now the mandatory challenger for Rey Vargas' WBC championship.

The fight stats were pretty even, with Figueroa landing 176 of 653 (27%) total punches and 161 of 528 (31%) of his power shots. Magsayo was credited with 179 of 593 (30%) total punches and 160 of 464 (35%) on his power shots.

Brandon Figueroa's Victory Analysis

Figueroa came out as a southpaw and switched back and forth in the first. It seemed to take Magsayo by surprise. He was on the defensive, backing up against the larger, taller Figueroa. Magsayo's counterpunching was not that effective early on, though that changed as the fight progressed.

Once Magsayo, found his punching range, he was able to get inside Figueroa's reach and attack with counter left hooks to the body and the head. The fight was primarily fought in the pocket. The times Magsayo was most effective came outside of the pocket, in the middle of the ring.

Figueroa alternated between fighting as a southpaw and conventional. Both worked. By the middle rounds, he was attacking downhill at Magsayo, who often held when Figueroa neared. Referee Thomas Taylor repeatedly warned Magsayo about the holding. With 2:29 left in the eighth round, he took a point away.

Magsayo slowed down over the course of the second half of the bout. Figueroa sported a cut over his right eye in the ninth but continued to work, ripping Magsayo with rights to the body. Magsayo fought back in spurts but appeared fatigued. A right to the body and a left hook upstairs stung Magsayo late in the tenth.

With 1:18 left in that frame, Taylor again took a point from Magsayo for holding. In the last minute of the round, Magsayo was hanging on trying to survive. He fell to a knee, but Thomas ruled it no knockdown.

In the 11th, Magsayo tried keeping Figueroa off of him, though he couldn't in the last half of the round. As the final seconds of the fight ticked away, Figueroa stalked Magsayo. Magsayo fell for a third time in the last minute, though again, Thomas ruled it a slip.

Mark Magsayo's Defeat Analysis

Seemingly running out of steam after a strong eighth round, when Mark Magsayo unloaded an eight-punch combination that rocked the American, Mark Magsayo was an open target for Figueroa, especially in the 10th when the Filipino got wobbled.

Mark Magsayo drew from his reserve tank in the 12th and last round, but there was not enough power left to put Figueroa down.

Figueroa's gas tank simply held up a lot better than Magsayo's, and Magsayo wilted late in the fight, though to his credit he gave it a gung-ho effort in round 12.

Comparison of Mark Magsayo and Brandon Figueroa

Mark Magsayo	vs.	Brandon Figueroa
27	Age	26
5 Feet 6 Inches (168 cm)	Height	5 Feet 8 Inches (173 cm)
57.27 (126 lbs)	Weight	57.18 (125.8 lbs))
Orthodox	Stance	Orthodox
68 Inches (173 Inches)	Reach	72 ½ (181 cm)
24-2-1	Boxing Record	24-2-0
18	KO's	16
With Carlos Castro On July 9, 2022 At Alamadome, San Antonio,Texas, U.S Win By Knockout	Last Fight	With Rey Vargas On July 9, 2022 At Alamadome, San Antonio, Texas, U.S Lost By Decision

Brandon Figueroa vs. Mark Magsayo Match Review

Brandon Figueroa, the former 122-pound belt holder, claimed the interim WBC 126-pound title against Mark Magsayo on Saturday, March 12, at Toyota Arena in Ontario, California. Figueroa initially struggled in the early rounds, but his relentless pressure ultimately wore down his opponent, who lost by unanimous decision.

While Magsayo began the fight with a strategy to outbox Figueroa, the latter's constant pressure and body shots proved too much for the Filipino. Though Magsayo had some good moments in the fight, including flashy flurries of four-, five-, or six-punch combinations, the judges favored Figueroa's work rate. Magsayo lost two points in the eighth and eleventh rounds due to excessive holding, which may have removed a tactic that worked for him.

Figueroa, on the other hand, remained consistent throughout the fight, applying constant pressure and suffocation, which is a trademark of his fighting style. By the fourth round, he got back to what he does best, and Magsayo could not keep up with his unrelenting onslaught. The Mark Magsayo vs. Brandon Figueroa match started to heat up after this moment.

Figueroa with counter-left hooks to the body and head. The fight primarily took place in the pocket, but Magsayo was most effective when fighting in the middle of the ring.

Figueroa continued to switch between stances and attacked Magsayo in the middle rounds, prompting Magsayo to frequently hold, which resulted in repeated warnings from referee Thomas Taylor.

In the eighth round, Taylor deducted a point from Magsayo for holding. As the fight progressed, Magsayo began to tire, and Figueroa landed several solid hits to his body in the ninth round, despite having a cut over his right eye.

In the tenth round, Taylor deducted another point from Magsayo for holding, and Magsayo appeared fatigued and fought back in spurts. He fell to a knee in the last minute of the round, but it was ruled a slip.

In the eleventh round, Magsayo attempted to keep Figueroa at bay but was ultimately overwhelmed in the last half of the round. As the match came to a close, Figueroa stalked Magsayo, who fell for a third time in the last minute, but it was again ruled a slip.

Brandon Figueroa vs. Mark Magsayo Lost and Gain Point

Figueroa's win against Magsayo came after a slow start in the early rounds. Magsayo's quickness and athleticism allowed him to get inside and deal damage to Figueroa. He would then move out of harm's way or hold Figueroa when the Texan tried to respond.

However, Magsayo's strategy of holding Figueroa would ultimately backfire. The former 126-pound champion lost two points for excessive holding, which did not have a direct impact on the outcome but removed a tactic that worked for him.

Opponents of Figueroa need every edge they can get to survive his constant pressure.

Figueroa's strategy is to wear down his opponents with his relentless pressure, and Magsayo was no exception. Although he fought bravely throughout the fight, he seemed exhausted by the end, which is typical for Figueroa's opponents.

Figueroa's victory in Mark Magsayo vs. Brandon Figueroa match is a significant accomplishment, as it sets him up to challenge for a world title in the future. He is now the mandatory challenger for Rey Vargas’ WBC championship, and if he wins, he will become a two-division world champion.

Brandon Figueroa claimed the interim WBC 126-pound title against Mark Magsayo on March 12, 2023. Mark Magsayo was helpless against Figueroa's constant pressure and devastating body shots.

"That's Boxing! I did my best to give the fans a great night of boxing and I Believe We won the fight. Thank you to everyone who supported us! Me and my team will be back soon to give great fights to great boxing fans! Keep pushing keep fighting we are Warriors."Mark Magsayo posted on social media.

"I want to thank God, my family, and my team for this fight, it was definitely a tough hard fight but I always make sure to leave it all in the ring no matter what. Happy and blessed to be able to do what I love and most importantly to come back home healthy and with the accolade to inspire and motivate the youth."

"Never been scared to go for my dreams and I have never been shy about the sacrifices I am willing to make to reach them. This is another great milestone for me and I can't wait to get back in the ring to continue to collect more wins and keep putting the Valley, Weslaco, and South Texas on the map," said Brandon Figueroa.

Brandon Figueroa vs. Mark Magsayo FAQ

Did Magsayo lose Fighting Figueroa?

Yes, Mark Magsayo lost the match by decision. The final score was 118-108, 117-109 and 117-109.

How many losses does Magsayo have?

Mark Magsayo has lost only 2 fights in his entire career. It has been more than 9 years since he made his debut. His boxing record is 24-2-0. He won 16 games out 24 by knocking out the opponent.

What time is Mark Magsayo fighting?

The timing of Mark Magsayo and Brandon Figueroa was 1 AM GMT and 8 PM European Time on March 4, 2023.