The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT: Hard-hitting former world champions Brandon “The Heartbreaker” Figueroa and Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo went face-to-face at Thursday’s final press conference and promised fireworks when they meet for the vacant Interim WBC Featherweight Title this Saturday, March 4 live on SHOWTIME from Toyota Arena in Ontario, Calif. headlining a Premier Boxing Champions event.
The press conference also featured former unified world champion “Swift” Jarrett Hurd and power-punching Armando Reséndiz, who meet in the 10-round middleweight co-main event, plus unbeaten young middleweights Amilcar Vidal and Elijah García, who square off in the 10-round SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® telecast opener at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions, are on sale now and can be purchased through Ticketmaster.com.
Figueroa and Magsayo will each look to earn a fight for the WBC Featherweight World Championship currently held by Rey Vargas with a statement victory on Saturday. For Figueroa, the former WBC Super Bantamweight World Champion, it presents an opportunity to become a two-division titlist, while Magsayo will be looking to reclaim the featherweight belt that he lost to Vargas via decision in his last fight.
FIGUEROA VS. MAGSAYO: DATE, START TIME
- Date: Saturday, March 4
- Main card: 1 a.m. GMT / 8 p.m. ET
- Main event ringwalks (approx): 4 a.m. GMT / 11 p.m. ET
- The fight will take place at the Toyota Arena, Ontario, California.
- Showtime will broadcast the fight in the U.S.
- The main card is set to get underway at 1 a.m. GMT / 8 p.m. ET with the main event ringwalks scheduled for 4 a.m. GMT / 11 p.m.
Here is what the fighters had to say Thursday from DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Ontario Airport:
BRANDON FIGUEROA
“I have all the abilities. Everyone knows that I love to fight. I want to dominate my opponent, break them down and get them out of there. I train really hard to go in there and do what I do best.
“I’m going to do anything it takes to win this fight. If I have to box, I’ll box. But if I can hurt him on the inside, I’ll get in there with body shots. I can beat him any way I have to.
“Everyone is going to see that I’m coming with everything. I have to make a big statement at 126 and leave my mark. I’m trying to win more titles and show I’m one of the best.
“Just expect a great fight. I hit a lot harder than Julio Ceja. Especially now that I’m at 126-pounds. I’m strong and powerful. Everybody is going to be surprised by what they see.
“I had a great training camp working in Las Vegas. I have an amazing team and I have my family supporting me. I can’t wait to give everyone a great show. I’m going to mix it up with Mark. I have nothing but respect for him, but I’m ready.
“This is going to be early ‘Spring Break’ action. We’re both coming to fight and coming to win. This is what boxing is all about. We’re facing the best of the best. Now we just have to put it all together on Saturday night and give the fans a great show.”
MARK MAGSAYO
“This is different than my last fight. Rey Vargas likes to run, but Figueroa comes to fight. It’s a big difference and it’s going to be much more exciting.
“Fans can expect that this is going to be a real fight. Neither of us are backing down. We’re coming forward. I know that he fights from different stances, but we’re prepared for it. We’ve been working hard since October for this.
“Whatever happens in the fight, we’re ready for it. I’ve fought a lot of good fighters and big punchers. I can take it, because I want to win.
“I’m not a big talker, but there’s going to be a knockdown in this fight. We’re ready to take advantage.
“I’m very excited for this fight. It’s a good opportunity to get back to a world title fight. I’ve learned from my mistakes and I’m ready to go.
“I guarantee this is going to be a great fight. We’re both prepared, so let’s see what happens on Saturday night. The winner of this fight is definitely the fans.”
JARRETT HURD
“We’ve been staying ready. I had a lot of wars in the beginning of my career, so I think that a break wasn’t such a bad thing. I’ve been in some tough fights and I took the time to get myself together.
“Training outside of my hometown just wasn’t a great thing for me. I had all my success there in training. Now I’m training with my new coach Andrew Council back in Maryland. We’re a great match and he allows me to be myself.
“I almost feel like I’m back to where I was before I was unified world champion. I’m back to the guy that people weren’t really believing in. I’m back to being the guy who has to go out there and prove every time why I was where I was. I had to go out there and beat guys that nobody thought I would beat. This time off made me fall back in love with the sport.
“Middleweight is where I’m going to stay at. They’re going to be saying that ‘Swift’ is back after Saturday. I’m going to shake off the cobwebs, but I’m going out there to dominate.
“I know he’s coming with the Mexican style, but they all say I have the Mexican style too. So it’s going to be a war for sure.”
ARMANDO RESENDIZ
“Jarrett has earned his place and I consider him a great fighter. But I know that I also have to earn my own place. I want to solidify myself in this sport just like Jarrett has in the past. I have to work hard to do it.
“I was always ready for a big fight. My coach Manny Robles and I have been tirelessly going through the lessons I had to learn from my past fights. I’m Mexican, so it’s in my blood to be ready for the pressure that Hurd is going to bring.
“I’m ready for war and I’m ready to fight at a distance. I’m not interested in predictions, but I’ve had amazing preparation for this fight and I’m ready to show what I’m all about.
“I want to give everyone a great show. Whatever happens, happens. I’m going to go with the flow, rely on my training, and get my hand raised at the end of the night.”
AMILCAR VIDAL
“He better be ready because every fight that I’m in is a dream come true for me and I’m looking to make more dreams in the future.
“I had an awesome training camp with Bob Santos as my coach and he’s prepared me really well. I’m ready to send a message of my own on Saturday.
“I want Uruguayans everywhere to know that I’ll do my best to make them proud. I’ve had to sacrifice a lot lately being away from my family, but I know that I can keep improving and go after what I want. My goal is to become the first ever world champion from Uruguay.
“I wanted to be focused on only working hard and giving the best that I could. I was well aware of what I was getting into working with Bob Santos. We’ve gelled really well and everyone is going to see the fruits of our labor on Saturday night. That’s for sure.”
ELIJAH GARCIA
“I wouldn’t say this is a step up too soon. This is something we’ve been preparing to do for years. The whole plan turning pro was to win fights. I’m 19-years-old and we’re aiming to fight for a world title in the next few years. If this is the route I have to go, then that’s what it’s gonna be.
“I want everybody to know that I’m not an average 19-year-old. You don’t see 19-year-olds taking these kinds of fights. I’m here to get the win in a fashionable way.
“I’m not a big talker. I’ll let my performance speak for itself. He’s a good opponent and I’m sure he had a good training camp. But he’s not the only one. I’m more than prepared.”
LOADED THREE-BOUT SHOWTIME® BOXING COUNTDOWN SHOW TO STREAM LIVE THIS SATURDAY MARCH 4 AT 6:30 PM ET/3:30 PM PT
A jam-packed lineup featuring a former title challenger and U.S. Olympian, a top prospect in his toughest test to date and an emerging unbeaten super lightweight will highlight the SHOWTIME BOXING COUNTDOWN live streaming presentation this Saturday, March 4 in a Premier Boxing Champions event from Toyota Arena in Ontario, Calif.
Super welterweight contender Terrell Gausha will top the action in a 10-round showdown against once-beaten Brandyn Lynch that streams live on the SHOWTIME SPORTS YouTube channel and SHOWTIME Boxing Facebook page. The lineup kicks off at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT and is hosted by award-winning MORNING KOMBAT live digital talk show hosts Luke Thomas and Brian Campbell.
Also featured in the ring will be sensational rising prospect Travon Marshall stepping up in competition to face the veteran Justin DeLoach Dock in an eight-round welterweight clash, plus unbeaten super lightweight Enriko Gogogkhia duels Samuel Teah in the 8/10-round opener.
The live streaming fights will precede the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® telecast at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT headlined by all-action former world champions Brandon “The Heartbreaker” Figueroa and Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo meeting for the vacant Interim WBC Featherweight Title.
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions, are on sale now and can be purchased through Ticketmaster.com.
A member of the 2012 U.S. Olympic team, Gausha (22-3-1, 11 KOs) was born in Cleveland, Ohio but now fights out of Encino, Calif. The 35-year-old has faced tough competition throughout his career, having fought former champion Austin Trout to a draw in 2019 in addition to decision losses against former champion Erislandy Lara and top contender Erickson Lubin. Following a KO of Jamontay Clark in March 2021, Gausha most recently lost a decision to Tim Tszyu last year after dropping Tszyu in round one. He will take on the 31-year-old Lynch (12-1-1, 9 KOs), a native of New Jersey who now resides in Los Angeles. Lynch is unbeaten since after his third pro fight, having avenged his only other blemish by winning a unanimous decision over Marcos Hernandez in May 2022 following a draw in their first matchup.
At just 22-years-old, Marshall (7-0, 6 KOs) has quickly shown the skill, power and poise to become a highly regarded prospect in just seven fights. Born in Landover, Md., and now fighting out of Capitol Heights, Md., Marshall is trained by former contender Andrew Council and made a strong 2023 debut in January by stopping Shawn West in one round. He will be opposed by Augusta, Georgia’s DeLoach Dock (19-5, 10 KOs), a veteran who owns victories over previously unbeaten fighters Domonique Dolton, Livan Navarro, Junior Castillo and Dillon Cook. He’s faced top competition at 154 and 147 pounds, having battled former unified champion Jeison Rosario and most recently welterweight contender Eimantas Stanionis in November 2020.
Gogokhia (13-0-2, 8 KOs) will return to the ring after two 2022 clashes against fellow unbeaten Kent Cruz that both ended in draws. A 31-year-old former kickboxing pro, Gogokhia originally hails from Zigdidi, Georgia and now resides stateside in Woodland Hills, Calif. He takes on Liberia’s Teah (18-4-1, 8 KOs), who most recently scored a first-round knockout of Larry Fryers in September 2019. Now residing in Philadelphia, Teah owns victories over current 130-pound world champion O’Shaquie Foster and super lightweight contender Kenneth Sims Jr.
The non-televised undercard will also include Dallas-native Miguel Hernandez (6-0, 6 KOs) in a six-round middleweight fight taking on Dario Guerrero (1-3-1) and unbeaten featherweight Albert Gonzalez (3-0, 1 KO) facing Joseph Cruz (3-5, 1 KO) in a six-round showdown.
Rounding out the action is undefeated lightweight prospect Anthony Cuba in a six-round lightweight duel against Florida’s Darel Harris and unbeaten super middleweight prospect Daniel Blancas battling Kansas’ Kynndale Prather in a four-round attraction.
BRANDON FIGUEROA VS. MARK MAGSAYO FIGHT CARD
- Brandon Figueroa vs. Mark Magsayo; Featherweight
- Amilcar Vidal vs. Elijah Lorenzo Garcia; Middleweight
- Jarrett Hurd vs. Jose Armando Resendiz; Middleweight
- Terrell Gausha vs. Brandyn Lynch; Super welterweight
- Justin DeLoach vs. Travon Marshall; Welterweight
- Enriko Gogokhia vs. Samuel Teah; Super lightweight
- Miguel Angel Hernandez vs. Dario Guerrero-Meneses; Middleweight
- Albert Gonzalez vs. Joseph Cruz Brown; Featherweight
- Daniel Blancas vs. Kynndale Prather; Super middleweight