Weslaco’s Brandon “The Heartbreaker” Figueroa earned a unanimous decision victory against Mark Magsayo for the vacant interim World Boxing Council (WBC) Featherweight championship belt Saturday on SHOWTIME at the Toyota Arena in Ontario, Calif.
Two judges scored the fight 117-109 for Figueroa, with the third judge in favor of “The Heartbreaker” 118-108.
Figueroa (24-1-1) is now 2-0 since moving up to the featherweight division and will likely fight Rey Vargas in a featherweight championship unification bout at a date to be determined.
Magsayo was the more explosive fighter over the first few rounds, but Figueroa began to dominate during the middle rounds of the fight with his pressure, size and body punches.
“I can fight any style, backwards, forwards, lefty, righty. I felt I confused him and he just didn’t know what to do,” Figueroa said. “I felt strong. I’m relentless and I come forward.”
One point was deducted from Magsayo for holding Figueroa during the eighth round following multiple warnings through the first seven rounds of the contest. Referee Thomas Taylor deducted another point from Magsayo during the 11th round following repeated holds from the Filipino fighter.
Figueroa finished with a 60-52 edge in body shots, Magsayo landed three more punches overall, but Figueroa held a slight advantage in power punches landed 161-160.