Mark Magsayo makes featherweight on second try, Brandon Figueroa weighs under limit
ONTARIO, Calif. — Mark Magsayo needed two hours to make the weight, but eventually came back to weigh in exactly at the 126-pound featherweight limit on Friday for his WBC interim title fight against Brandon Figueroa this Saturday at the Toyota Arena.
The former WBC featherweight titleholder initially weighed in at 126.8 pounds, but came back exactly at the weight with minutes to spare. The ballroom erupted in applause as Magsayo supporters reacted to clearing this initial hurdle.
Figueroa (23-1-1, 18 knockouts) had no issue on the scale, checking in at 125.8 pounds on his first attempt. The 26-year-old Figueroa of Weslaco, Tex. immediately refueled with an apple after stepping off the scales.
Mark Magsayo weighs in over the featherweight limit at 126.8 pounds on his first attempt, while Brandon Figueroa weighs 125.8 for their WBC interim featherweight title fight. Magsayo has two hours to shed the weight or will be ineligible to win the belt #FigueroaMagsayo pic.twitter.com/KSWZQe8Bzs
— Ryan Songalia (@ryansongalia) March 3, 2023
The fight will headline a Showtime Championship Boxing tripleheader, beginning at 9 p.m. ET.
Magsayo (24-1, 16 KOs) of Tagbilaran City, Philippines is fighting for the first time since his first pro loss, a split decision to Rey Vargas last July which cost him the WBC featherweight title.
Figueroa is looking to win his second straight after dropping the WBC junior featherweight title in a majority decision loss to Stephen Fulton in November of 2021.
Mark Magsayo supporters erupt in joy as Magsayo makes the 126-pound limit on his second attempt. Magsayo will face Brandon Figueroa tomorrow for the WBC interim featherweight title in Ontario, Calif., live on @SHOsports pic.twitter.com/tT7yVGdT56
— Ryan Songalia (@ryansongalia) March 3, 2023
Vargas, who will likely be the next opponent for the winner, was in attendance at the weigh-in. He wasn’t sure what to make of Magsayo missing weight on the first attempt.
“Maybe he had a strategy to come in with more muscle and that’s why he couldn’t lose weight. Maybe his body just can’t shed any more weight,” said Vargas (36-1, 22 KOs) of Mexico City, Mex.
“It’s a great fight, a hard matchup for both fighters. One of them brings a lot of pressure, the other one has a lot of speed.”
There were few other issues on the scales on the rest of the card.
Former unified junior middleweight titleholder Jarrett Hurd (24-2, 16 KOs) weighed in at 159.2 pounds for his ten-round co-main event bout with Jose Resendiz (13-1, 9 KOs), who weighed in at 161 pounds.
Amilcar (16-0, 12 KOs) of Montevideo, Uruguay weighed in at 159 pounds, while Elijah Garcia (13-0, 11 KOs) weighed 158.6 pounds.
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