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Brandon Figueroa vs. Mark Magsayo
Virtual Press Conference
Quotes
All-action former world champions Brandon “The Heartbreaker”
Figueroa and Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo previewed their
showdown for the vacant Interim WBC Featherweight Title
during a virtual press conference Wednesday before they step
into the ring on Saturday, March 4 live on SHOWTIME from
Toyota Arena in Ontario, Calif., topping a Premier Boxing
Champions event.
The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® telecast begins at 9 p.m.
ET/6 p.m. PT and will see former unified world champion
“Swift” Jarrett Hurd return to action against the
power-punching Armando Reséndiz in the 10-round middleweight
co-main event, while unbeaten young middleweights Amilcar
Vidal and Elijah Garcia meet in a 10-round showdown that
kicks off the telecast.
Figueroa and Magsayo will each look to move one step closer
to regaining championship status by capturing the interim
126-pound title on March 4. Figueroa debuted at
featherweight with a scintillating knockout last July after
an impressive run at 122-pounds, while Magsayo looks to
bounce back after dropping the WBC Featherweight World
Championship via split decision against Rey Vargas on that
same card in July.
Here is what the fighters had to say Wednesday:
BRANDON FIGUEROA
“[Mark] Magsayo is an amazing fighter and I expect a lot
from him. I’ve been in Las Vegas for over a month and things
are going great. Magsayo is a strong fighter, but I’m a
strong fighter as well. I have what it takes to take this
fight right to him and show the world that I have the same
power at featherweight.
“Everyone knows that I come to fight. Come March 4, everyone
is going to see what kind of fighter I am at 126-pounds.
“I know exactly what I’m doing when I fight inside the
pocket. When I’m inside, I’m really comfortable and I know
how to work. I can let my body shots off from there. We’ve
worked on a lot of things though, because I know Magsayo is
a heavy hitter like me.
“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.
“I’ve been in there with a lot of world champions and great
fighters. We both fought Julio Ceja, and only Magsayo got
knocked down. I was able to handle the power. He didn’t make
me buckle, and he weighed in four pounds heavier than I did.
“This could be another Fight of the Year candidate. I’m
ready to show off my skills. The fans love when I fight
because they know it’s never boring. I want to fight the
best of the best and keep proving to everyone that I belong
at this level.
“We’ve been focused on Magsayo and we’ve seen that he was
frustrated and impatient against Rey Vargas. We’re learning
from it and preparing to take advantage of it.
“People have been saying they’re going to knock me out since
the start of my career. They can say what they want about my
style, but I’m still here. And I’m not here by the skin of
my teeth. I work hard. Come fight night, he’ll find out if
I’m easy to knock out or not.
“I expected Stephen Fulton Jr., to not take the rematch with
me. My job is to go out there and give a spectacular fight
for the fans. I do what I do best, and that’s fight. I do
feel like the rematch will happen in the future, it’s just a
matter of time.”
MARK MAGSAYO
“The winner of this fight is going to be the fans. I’m
coming back stronger than ever.
“I’ve been training since October for this fight and it’s
been great. I’ve been doing a lot of rounds in sparring.
This is going to be a great fight.
“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.
“I want to thank Freddie Roach for everything I learned from
him. Now having Marvin Somodio as my trainer. He is a great
trainer and we understand each other.
“I guarantee that this is going to be a great fight.
[Brandon] Figueroa is strong and always comes forward. But
I’m strong too and that’s going to make this fight one you
don’t want to miss.
“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’m hungrier than ever. I’ve always been hungry, but I know
that I need to win this fight. This is my chance to become a
champion again.
“It’s going to be a great night. Southern California has
amazing fight fans. We’re both exciting fighters and
everyone knows that they’re going to want to be at the edge
of their seats for this one.
“I’ve been smarter in training and paying more attention to
the details. I’m going to add more defense and make sure
that I’m always training smartly. I almost won that last
fight, so there are just small adjustments that needed to be
made.
“I’ve come back stronger for this fight. I learned a lot
from my last fight. I’m very thankful to have an opportunity
like this to show everyone that I’m a better fighter now.”
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