By Allan Fox: Brandon Figueroa (24-1-1, 18 KOs) says the explanation Mark Magsayo (24-2, 16 KOs) saved falling down within the championship rounds of their battle on Saturday night time was that he “didn’t wish to battle” and was gassed out and scared.
It seemed to some like Magsayo was falling down repeatedly for 2 causes.
A. It allowed him to quickly keep away from the punishing pictures.
B. Magsayo may get a breather.
Figueroa received the battle by a 12 spherical unanimous choice to win the WBC interim featherweight title on the Toyota Enviornment in Ontario, California.
It was shocking that Magsayo would fall down as a lot as he did, and it was additionally weird that the referee didn’t penalize him or take a degree away by calling it a knockdown. Both means, Magsayo ought to have misplaced a degree when he was getting labored over by Figueroa and fell down.
Earlier than this battle, Magsayor could have by no means fought anybody that attacked him to the physique the way in which that Figueroa did, and he couldn’t deal with it.
“Proper now, I’m right down to battle anybody,” mentioned Brandon Figueroa on the post-fight press convention after beating former WBC featherweight champion Mark Magsayo on Saturday night time in Ontario, California.
“You’ll be able to inform my a fighter’s demeanor once they’re exhausted. Instantly, while you see them fall down that simply. That implies that he’s displaying indicators that he doesn’t wish to battle.
“Al Haymon is aware of, and my workforce is aware of that I by no means again down from any fighter or any battle. Anybody that desires to battle, I’m right here. As you guys can see, I can battle regardless of who’s in my means.
“He was holding & leaning loads,” mentioned Figueroa about Magsayo’s techniques throughout the battle. “It was giving me a tough time to work the physique and work on the within.
“I managed to work in little glimpses, however yeah, he was holding many of the battle. I used to be simply making an attempt to get my palms free and work. Taking the battle to him is draining. My preparation exterior of the ring.
“My legs had been good, my conditioning was good, and my energy was there; every thing was there. I knew he was holding loads. I wished to battle. I wished him to let go and battle me. I knew he did it within the final spherical.
“It’s wonderful to be in these firefights and provides the followers the ambiance that they love,” mentioned Figueroa.
