Figueroa and Fierro Headline Sneaky Exciting Night of Boxing
Saturday was low-key the best night of boxing in 2023. Two cards produced all-action, fan-friendly fights. One from Mexico that aired on DAZN, and the second, a PBC card live from Ontario, California.
On the early card out of Mexico, Angel Fierro secured perhaps a career-best win in absolutely taking apart Eduardo Estela over seven action-packed, but mainly one-sided rounds. Estela was dropped a total of three times. Fierro maintained a high punch output and the effects become noticeable in the fourth. With about a minute left, Fierro floored Estela with a barrage of power shots. Estela beat the count but was dropped again moments later. This time from an uppercut that nearly knocked Estela out of the ring. However, the game challenger was again able to beat the count. Estella valiantly fought back in the fifth and appeared to be making a fight of it for a while. However, Fierro regained control, and this time for good. Towards the end of the seventh, a two-piece combination staggered Estela into the ropes. Fierro followed up with a left hook that stapped Estela in his tracks and then unleashed a whirlwind of power shots that dropped Estela to the canvas for a final time as Referee Miguel Angel Canul came in and saved Estela at 2:59 of the seventh.
In the co-main, we got a KO of the year candidate as 25-year-old Eduardo Nunez of Los Mochis, Mexico, scored with a violent right cross that flattened Jesus Martin Ceyca and brought Referee Edgar Ledezma to immediately waive the bout off at 2:14 of the second round.
Also on the card was 28-year-old 2016 olympian Middleweight prospect Misael Rodriguez of Cienega de Ceniceros, Mexico. Rodriguez is trained by Robert Garcia, was able to overcome adversity for the first time to improve his record 13-0 (7) defeating Aaron Rocha Guerrero by unanimous decision via Scores of 77-76x2, and 78-76 for Rodriguez.
In the evening's other card, the PBC card aired on Showtime. Brandon "The Heartbreaker" Figueroa delivered another fight-of-the-year type scrap. After somewhat of a slower start, a slow start for Figueroa's standard at least, the younger Figueroa brother got cooking in the middle rounds. Pressing forward and switching between the conventional and southpaw stances, "The Heartbreaker" began breaking his man down with body shots and hooks, along with a pinpoint uppercut that he landed from both hands from both stances. Figueroa's pressuring styles started to pay dividends as Magsayo was twice deducted a point for holding and clinging to the Rio Grande Valley native. Facing disqualification, Magsayo could no longer hold on, and Figueroa slammed on the gas and wore Magsayo down in a highly entertaining final few stanzas. Removing any doubt and swinging the fight in the south Texans' favor. With two judges scored the fight 117-109, and the third had it 118-108. As he now moves on to fight Vargas for his WBC featherweight belt.
In the co-main former unified 154-pound world champ Jarrett Hurd was unsuccessful in his middleweight comeback Armando Resendiz stood toe to toe with the former champ and broke him and eventually got the stoppage. After a highly competitive and even-ish first half, Resendiz seized control, outworking out landing and making "Swift" simply look slow. Hurd's aggression came to halt in the eighth as Hurd was no longer coming forward, and the writing was on the wall. Resendiz slammed on the gas and pressed the action as Hurd was being beaten down. The ninth was more of the same as Resendiz continued to unload on Hurd. The round proved to be the last as the referee called Hurd over to the doctor to start the 10th and the decision was made to stop the fight.
Also on the undercard was the coming out party of 19-year-old Elijah Garcia of Phoenix, Arizona, who destroyed the 160 Pound boogie man, Amilcar Vidal. Garcia got going in the second. He would sharpshoot from the outside and land heavy artillery, while on the inside. The third saw both fighters standing toe to toe and landing heavy artillery. In the fourth, Garcia badly hurt Vidal with a thudding countershot that snapped Vidal's head back and then unloaded a hurricane of power shots, each landing with accuracy and power that sent Vidal crumbling to the floor as the bout was waved off. Giving Garcia the victory and moving his record to 14-0 (12).
