A vital have a look at the previous week in boxing
BIGGEST WINNER
Brandon Figueroa – How good is Figueroa? Actually good. He instructed me going into his combat with Mark Magsayo on Saturday that he feels he’s nonetheless seen as a simple mark. Nicely, if that was as soon as the case, it actually isn’t now. The previous 122-pound titleholder overcame a gradual begin in opposition to a faster, extra athletic opponent to grind him down with relentless strain and win a extensive choice, thus positioning himself for a shot at Rey Vargas’ 126-pound belt. The actual fact is Figueroa’s a bodily freak, an unusually robust, ridiculously match warrior who appears to be at his finest when issues are their most harry. Mentioned pound-for-pounder Stephen Fulton Jr., who narrowly outpointed Figueroa: “It was a troublesome combat, he’s a troublesome individual.” Ya assume? I examine Figueroa to Leo Santa Cruz, one other aggressive quantity puncher adept at breaking down opponents. I feel Figueroa (24-1-1, 18 KOs) is likely to be extra sturdy than Santa Cruz, although. That’s going to make him troublesome to beat whatever the opponent. Vargas could possibly be in bother.
BIGGEST LOSER
Mark Magsayo couldn’t face up to Brandon Figueroa’s strain. Esther Lin / Showtime
Mark Magsayo – The place do I begin? I suppose with the very fact he initially got here in .8 kilos over the 126-pound restrict on Friday, which was the results of both problem chopping weight or a miscalculation. Both manner, it wasn’t omen. His combating techniques had been pretty efficient, significantly within the first third of the combat. Nevertheless, the holding grew to become ridiculously extreme. He justifiably misplaced two factors for it, though the deductions didn’t influence the result. And whereas he gave a good account of himself he clearly light within the second half of the combat. His incapacity to make weight may’ve performed a job in that however you may ensure that the principle cause was Figueroa’s incessant strain and bodily energy, which will be overwhelming. The optimistic? The protégé of Manny Pacquiao was faster and extra athletic than Figueroa, which allowed him to get in, do injury and get out within the early rounds. And his explosive multi-punch mixtures acquired everybody’s consideration. He’s fighter. He was simply in with the fallacious man.
MOST QUESTIONABLE SCORING?
Figueroa-Magsayo – Sean Gibbons, Magsayo’s promoter, was furious over the scoring of the combat with Figueroa. The official scores had been 118-108, 117-109 and 117-109, that means one choose gave Figueroa 10 rounds and two gave him 9. Decide Zachary Younger gave Figueroa the final 9 rounds. “You can not, irrespective of the way you add it up, rating rounds 4 [through] 12 for Brandon Figueroa. You simply can’t do it,” Gibbons instructed reporters. “… This man fought his ass off. And everyone noticed the combat. Even with the purpose deductions, [it] might’ve been 15-13, 14-14. However 17-9? No.” Mentioned Magsayo, who left the ring with out being interviewed instantly after the combat: “If I didn’t [get] the 2 deductions, I [thought] I’m gonna win the combat. I hit him clearly, stable punches. He really feel it. He was damage.” I agree that the scoring was too extensive, though not outrageously so. I scored it 115-111 for Figueroa, seven rounds to 5. And I perceive that Gibbons needed to face up for his fighter. Nevertheless, the suitable man received. He dominated the ultimate 9 rounds even for those who give one or two to Magsayo.
BIGGEST WINNER II
Armando Resendiz understood the importance of his accomplishment. Esther Lin / Showtime
Armando Resendiz – The 24-year-old Mexican selected the suitable time to ship his finest efficiency as an expert. The sunshine heavyweight-turned-super middleweight-turned middleweight had a shaky 2021, eking out a cut up choice over journeyman Quilisto Madera and dropping a unanimous choice to Marcos Hernandez. He bounced again to cease one other journeyman, Heber Rondon, in two rounds final October, which led to a shot at former unified 154-pound champion Jarrett Hurd on the Figueroa-Magsayo card. He arrived ready. Naturally larger and stronger than Hurd – in addition to match – he took the combat to his extra heralded opponent, outworked him and was by no means damage. That’s why he was properly forward on the playing cards when the scheduled 10-round combat was stopped after 9 due to a grotesque lower on Hurd’s higher lip. Resendiz (14-1, 10 KOs) celebrated wildly afterward. Why not? He had simply taken a major step towards turning into a reputable middleweight contender.
BIGGEST WINNER III
Teenager Elijah Garcia (left) fought like a veteran in opposition to Amilcar Vidal. Esther Lin / Showtime
Elijah Garcia – Nineteen years outdated? Somebody test Garcia’s delivery certificates. {The teenager} from Phoenix fought with the maturity of a veteran in opposition to the more-experienced and beforehand unbeaten Amilcar Vidal (16-1, 12 KOs) on the Figueroa-Magsayo card, withstanding a fierce assault from Vidal and firing again in variety in an entertaining scrap. After which Garcia delivered the most dramatic second on the televised portion of the cardboard. He damage Vidal with a proper hook and adopted with a barrage of onerous pictures, which put Vidal on the canvas. Referee Jack Reiss took a fast have a look at Vidal and determined he couldn’t proceed, which was the suitable choice. The fourth-round knockout was like a popping out occasion for Garcia (14-0, 12 KOs), who appears to have the bodily instruments and way of thinking to achieve boxing. He mentioned he desires to win a serious world title by the age of 21. His efficiency on Saturday is a sign that something is feasible.
BIGGEST LOSER II
Jarrett Hurd (proper) had his moments in opposition to Armando Resendiz. Esther Lin / Showtime
Jarrett Hurd – It’s most likely too early to jot down off Hurd (24-3, 16 KOs) however he’s not in a robust place. He gave the impression to be a budding star going into his title protection in opposition to the proficient Julian Williams in 2019. He’s 1-3 since, dropping to Williams, Luis Arias and now Resendiz after getting back from a 21-month layoff. He carried out properly sufficient in opposition to Resendiz to make me assume he ought to hold attempting. Perhaps the lengthy break left him rusty, which is now gone. On the similar time, plainly he doesn’t have at 160 kilos the bodily benefits he had at 154. I think Hurd’s future in boxing will come all the way down to his willpower greater than anything. How badly does he wish to regain his standing as an elite fighter? Is he keen to place within the all-consuming, grueling work it should take for him to succeed? We’ll see how this performs out.
