2023 has produced quality fights and that trend is still going with Saturday's fight between Figueroa and Magsayo. The fight will be for the WBC Interim where the winner will presumably face Vargas next if the champion decides to stay at 126 pounds. Both fought last July, Figueroa scored a stoppage win over Carlos Castro, while Magsayo lost his belt against the aforementioned Vargas in a competitive fight. Who are you fellas picking? This content is protected This content is protected
Magsayo has a puncher's chance, but I have a hard time seeing him put a dent in the iron chinned Heartbreaker. Figueroa stops him with a body shot inside 6.
I was so unimpressed with Magsayo's effort against a one-armed Gary Russell Jr. that I have a hard time picking the Filipino to beat any top fighter. He does pack a wallop but I think Figueroa takes this one by wide UD.
Never was impressed with Magsayo and I think his skills and ring IQ are very poor. Other than a big punch he doesn’t offer with anything else beyond that. Thankfully Figueroa has a come forward style that can present some openings for Magsayo’s power but I doubt it would be enough to beat him. Still a good match up and hopefully this one is as fun as the fights from last week or the week before.
Figueroa has every reason to win but you know Magsayo will catch lightning in a bottle one more time in his career and it well be this week. This second tier is where so many of the most exciting fights came from pre-2020 and it's exciting to see it heating back up. Makes me think of HBO free preview weekend checking out Boxing After Dark.
Ceja dropped him hard with a body shot and Chris Avalos had him all over the place after two well placed hooks to the head, he dropped him with a left hook not long after.
Figueroas pressure, output and body work should be enough to edge this one. Not quite sure if Brandon stops him but i'm very confident he wins the fight. Figueroa is basically a better, more durable and younger & less shopworn version of Julio Ceja who gave Magsayo absolute hell. He should get the job done.
