Figueroa Decisions Magsayo to Capture Interim WBC

Brandon “The Heartbreaker” Figueroa (24-1-1, 18 KOs) of Weslaco, Texas fought hard in winning a unanimous decision over a very tough Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo (24-2, 16 KOs) of the Philippines on Saturday night at the Toyota Arena in Ontario, California to win the WBC interim featherweight title in headlining Showtime Championship Boxing.

Off to a fast start, Magsayo connected with a short right hand, Figueroa returned the favor as he landed a huge chopping right. Magsayo attacked in round two, backing Figueroa with a right hand, fighting at close quarters Figueroa connected inside. In round three, Magsayo pressed but Figueroa landed a thudding body shot, moments later Magsayo unloaded a series of punches to score and finished strong to end the round. Staying busy in the fourth, Figueroa and Magsayo fought at close quarters inside, both connecting and having their momentum.

The fight continued inside in the fifth, with Figueroa letting his hands go, Magsayo kept pressing. It continued to be fast paced and non-stop in the sixth with Figueroa getting a bit more distance boxing as Magsayo kept fighting on. Pass the halfway point and in the seventh, referee Thomas Taylor warned Magsayo for holding, moments after the Filipino slipped as Figueroa then began to stalk. Referee Thomas Taylor began the eighth round issuing a second warning for holding but soon after ward deducted a point from Magsayo. Figueroa then began to press but Magsayo returned connecting a series of left hooks but Figueroa continued to box.

Letting his hands go and swinging away, Magsayo was busy in the ninth, but Figueroa countered and mixed it up with the Filipino. Relentlessly fighting Magsayo and Figueroa were in the deep waters late in the fight. The tenth began with Magsayo unloading a barrage, Figueroa stood in. Figueroa appeared to be getting momentum as he began chopping down Magsayo. On the prowl, Figueroa sensed that Magsayo was fading. The championship rounds were not the best for Magsayo as another point was deducted for holding, Figueroa kept sticking to his plan as Magsayo appeared to be running out of time. In the twelfth and final round, Figueroa stayed busy as Magsayo sensed the urgency but appeared to be tiring as he dropped to his knees for a third time in three rounds. Figueroa pressed the issue to close but Magsayo fought valiantly to the final bell.

After completing twelve rounds the judges scored the fight 118-108, and 117-109, 117-109 as Figueroa wins a unanimous decision.

Resendiz KO's Former Champ Hurd

In an upset, Armando “Toro” Resendiz (14-1, 10KO) stopped former unified world champion, Jarrett “Swift” Hurd (24-3, 16KO) in the final round of a scheduled ten round middleweight bout on Saturday night at the Toyota Arena in Ontario, California.

Resendiz pushed the action from the beginning with Hurd content to mostly throw counterpunches that enjoyed early success. It was a rough fight with Resendiz warned for head butts and Hurd twice warned for low blows.

By the middle rounds, the superior activity of Resendiz was the difference maker as Hurd was unable to find the counter punches to keep Resendiz at bay.

The eighth round saw Hurd’s face start swelling up like a balloon and he was bloodied, as well.

The ninth round was all Resendiz as Hurd looked like a shell of his former self. Only after the ninth round did Resendiz finally show some celebratory emotion as if he finally knew he had the fight in the bag.

Just as the tenth round started, the ringside doctor called a halt to the action to examine Hurd. After a few seconds, the doctor informed the referee that Hurd was unable to continue due to a severe laceration on his lip and, with that, the referee waved off the fight.

By way of knockout at 0:05 of the tenth round, Resendiz is the winner and instant middleweight title contender. Resendiz suddenly looks like a logical choice for a Jermall Charlo comeback fight / title defense.

Elijah Garcia Impressive KO vs. Vidal

Opening the Showtime Championship Boxing telecast on Saturday night at the Toyota Arena in Ontario, California, undefeated 19-year-old middleweight Elijah Garcia (14-0, 12 KOs) of Phoenix scored a spectacular fourth round knockout over Amilcar Vidal (16-1, 12 KOs) from Uruguay. It was a feel out opening round as Vidal and Garcia starting things off. The southpaw Garcia connected with a solid straight left in round two, snapping Vidal’s head but Vidal kept coming. Garcia continued to fire away as he finished the round strong. Bleeding from the nose in the third, Garcia kept working away as Vidal stood in the pocket chipping away. Jabbing away and staying in close quarters in round four, Garcia rocked Vidal with a as he dropped him forcing referee Jack Reiss to stop the fight at 2:17 of the fourth.

Gausha & Marshall Score KO's, Teah Pulls the Upset

Former world title challenger, Terrell Gausha (23-3-1, 12 KOs) impressively stopped tough but basic Brandyn Lynch (13-1-1, 10 KOs) by way of ninth round knockout in a scheduled 10 round super welterweight bout. The two fighters started out slowly but by the middle rounds it was a battle of Gausha’s skills against Lynch’s aggression. Gausha was just on another level and despite Lynch’s best efforts, it was Gausha who was landing the cleaner punches.

As the rounds progressed, Gausha turned up the intensity and with Lynch’s forward charging efforts, it was a lot of Gausha counterpunches doing the most damage. Early in the ninth round, Gausha landed a perfectly timed and place right cross to the chin that sent Lynch crashing to the canvas. Lynch got up on very unsteady legs to an indecisive referee who seemed torn between stopping it and allowing it to continue.

Although a stoppage would have been justified, the ref allowed action to continue, only for Gausha to land three clubbing right hands that deposited Lynch on the canvas, once again.

A stoppage at this point would again have been justified, but in for a penny – in for a pound, the referee allowed it to continue once again. Gausha again hammered Lynch to the canvas with the referee finally waving off the fight.

Time of the stoppage was 0:50 of the ninth round. With the victory, Gausha rebounds nicely from his loss to Tim Tszyu and puts himself back in title contention.

Welterweight prospect Travon Marshall (8-0, 7 KOs) scored a third-round knockout over veteran Justin DeLoach Dock (19-6, 10 KOs). Marshall knockdown DeLoach as the bout was immediately waived at 2:07 of the third.

Super lightweight Samuel Teah (19-4-1, 8 KOs) from Philadelphia by way of Liberia handed Enriko Gogogkhia (13-1-2, 8 KOs) of Georgia his first defeat in pulling the upset. Teah dropped Gogogkhia in the opening round and manage

Other Bouts

Lightweight prospect Anthony Cuba (5-0-2, 4 KOs) of nearby Fontana, California won a six round unanimous decision over Darel Harris (7-21-2, 5 KOs). All three judges scored the bout 60-54 as Cuba dominated and worked his way to a decision.

In the opening bout, super middleweight prospect Daniel Blancas (5-0, 2 KOs) of Milwaukee scored a first round knockout over Kynndale Prather (3-16, 1 KO). Prather was down twice, and a crunching body shot is what did it as referee Jack Reiss waived it at 1:53 of the opening round.

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