A vital have a look at the previous week in boxing
BIGGEST WINNER
Brandon Figueroa – How good is Figueroa? Actually good. He advised 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 wide decision, thus positioning himself for a shot at Rey Vargas’ 126-pound belt. The actual fact is Figueroa’s a bodily freak, an unusually sturdy, ridiculously match warrior who appears to be at his finest when issues are their most harry. Stated pound-for-pounder Stephen Fulton Jr., who narrowly outpointed Figueroa: “It was a tricky combat, he’s a tricky particular person.” Ya assume? I examine Figueroa to Leo Santa Cruz, one other aggressive quantity puncher adept at breaking down opponents. I believe Figueroa (24-1-1, 18 KOs) may be extra sturdy than Santa Cruz, although. That’s going to make him tough to beat whatever the opponent. Vargas may very well be in hassle.
BIGGEST LOSER
Mark Magsayo couldn’t stand up to Brandon Figueroa’s strain. Esther Lin / Showtime
Mark Magsayo – The place do I begin? I assume 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 reducing weight or a miscalculation. Both approach, it wasn’t a superb omen. His combating techniques have been pretty efficient, notably within the first third of the combat. Nevertheless, the holding turned ridiculously extreme. He justifiably misplaced two factors for it, though the deductions didn’t impression the end result. And whereas he gave a good account of himself he clearly pale within the second half of the combat. His incapability to make weight would possibly’ve performed a job in that however you’ll be able to ensure that the primary 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 a superb fighter. He was simply in with the improper man.
MOST QUESTIONABLE SCORING?
Figueroa-Magsayo – Sean Gibbons, Magsayo’s promoter, was furious over the scoring of the combat with Figueroa. The official scores have been 118-108, 117-109 and 117-109, which means one choose gave Figueroa 10 rounds and two gave him 9. Decide Zachary Younger gave Figueroa the final 9 rounds. “You can’t, irrespective of the way you add it up, rating rounds 4 [through] 12 for Brandon Figueroa. You simply can’t do it,” Gibbons advised reporters. “… This man fought his ass off. And everyone noticed the combat. Even with the purpose deductions, [it] may’ve been 15-13, 14-14. However 17-9? No.” Stated 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, strong punches. He really feel it. He was harm.” I agree that the scoring was too vast, 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 precise man received. He dominated the ultimate 9 rounds even in case you 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 precise time to ship his best performance as an expert. The sunshine heavyweight-turned-super middleweight-turned middleweight had a shaky 2021, eking out a break up choice over journeyman Quilisto Madera and shedding 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 harm. That’s why he was nicely forward on the playing cards when the scheduled 10-round combat was stopped after 9 due to a ugly lower on Hurd’s higher lip. Resendiz (14-1, 10 KOs) celebrated wildly afterward. Why not? He had simply taken a major step towards changing into a respectable 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 previous? Somebody test Garcia’s beginning 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 type in an entertaining scrap. After which Garcia delivered the most dramatic moment on the televised portion of the cardboard. He harm Vidal with a proper hook and adopted with a barrage of arduous 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 precise choice. The fourth-round knockout was like a popping out social gathering for Garcia (14-0, 12 KOs), who appears to have the bodily instruments and state of mind to reach 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 seemed to be a budding star going into his title protection in opposition to the gifted Julian Williams in 2019. He’s 1-3 since, shedding to Williams, Luis Arias and now Resendiz after coming back from a 21-month layoff. He carried out nicely sufficient in opposition to Resendiz to make me assume he ought to preserve making an attempt. Possibly 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 the rest. How badly does he need to regain his standing as an elite fighter? Is he prepared to place within the all-consuming, grueling work it would take for him to succeed? We’ll see how this performs out.
