Home Boxing News Team Magsayo say they didn’t deserve point deductions, slam judges

Team Magsayo say they didn’t deserve point deductions, slam judges

Mark Magsayo and Brandon Figueroa. Photo credit: Esther Lin/Showtime

The team behind Mark ‘Magnifico’ Magsayo 24-2 (16) are ropeable at the treatment they received from officials in the 12-round unanimous decision loss to Brandon ‘The Heartbreaker’ Figueroa 24-1-1 (18) at the Toyota Arena in Ontario, California on Saturday night.

The 27-year-old Magsayo of the Philippines got off to a fast start but faded late in the bout. His cause was not helped by point deductions in the eighth and 11th rounds for excessive holding.

At the final bell Figueroa was awarded the victory by scores of 118-108 and 117-109 twice. Many fans and pundits thought the fight was much closer than that.

There was plenty on the line for the winner too who received the vacant WBC interim featherweight title and a shot at full champion Rey Vargas 36-1 (22).

Magsayo’s manager Sean Gibbons unloaded unloaded on the judges, the referee and the California State Athletic Commission after the bout.

“The man fought in San Antonio and lost a very close disputed [decision against Rey Vargas] and I thought he won,” Gibbons said to FightHubTV. “What we saw tonight was pathetic. You cannot not, no matter how you add it up, score rounds four to twelve for Brandon Figueroa. You just can’t do it and also I want to know why the state of California changed one of our judges.

“On Monday, they changed one of our judges. They changed Rudy Baragon. Why? Because that one guy scored it 117-109? Pathetic. This man fought his ass off. Everybody saw the fight. Even with the point deductions it could have been 115-113 or 114-114, but 117-109? No.”

Magsayo admitted the fight was close but said he did not deserve the point deductions from referee Thomas Taylor. Even without losing points, Magsayo still would have lost on the cards.

“I did my best in the ring. That was a close fight for me,” said Magsayo. “He just punched me on the inside, but I hit him clearly. I lost because of the two deductions. We’re the same holding.”

Gibbons added: “He felt that the referee was on him. He felt like the referee was working Figueroa’s corner too. It was horrible.”

Both Magsayo and Gibbons believe Figueroa did just a much holding as the former WBC featherweight champion.

“I felt like the referee was one-sided. That’s okay,” said Magsayo. “Figueroa was holding me too. We’re holding together.”

“They’re both holding here and they’re fighting. It’s called boxing. It’s technical shit, you’re working,” said Gibbons. “Holding is holding.”

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