By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
Filipino boxing superstar Mark Magsayo is ready for a highly-anticipated showdown against Brandon Figueroa in their upcoming matchup tomorrow for the World Boxing Council (WBC) Interim featherweight belt.
The hard-hitting Filipino pug will look to avenge his first-ever professional loss in his first match back after eight months of hiatus from professional boxing.
Despite the long lay-off, Magsayo announced that he came prepared against the American challenger and hopes to bring positive results from his intensive training camp which started last October.
“Brandon Figueroa is not going to back out. He comes forward. I’ve been prepared for this fight. I’ve been preparing since last year, October, until now. We’re ready,” said Magsayo during the press conference.
Like Magsayo, Figueroa only tasted defeat once and has tallied 18 total knockouts out of his 23 total victories.
The 26-year-old American knockout artist is coming off an impressive victory when he took down Carlos Castro in just three rounds last year.
This will be an interesting style clash with Magsayo playing a more patient offense in the first three rounds against a spit-fire Figueroa who loves to bring the action soon as the bell rings.
“Whatever happens in the fight. Whatever style he’s going to do, forward, backward, everything, we’re ready for that. We’re prepared for that,” added Magsayo.
The Filipino also revealed that his camp already devised a game plan on how to contain Figueroa’s length and body shots.
Midway through the press conference, Magsayo said that the last part of his training camp was all about countering Figueroa’s body shots which became his bread and butter in his past 10 fights where he won seven via way of knockout.
Can Magsayo endure the young American’s punching power or will he outsmart him just like he did Russell Jr?
