Brian Arregui Upsets Vlad Panin, Justin Figueroa Stops Rios in Atlantic City, NJ
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent – Ringside
*Photo Credit: Robert Brizel, Real Combat Media
Atlantic, City (March 26th, 2025)– In the co-main event of a Boxing Insider six-bout card at The Tropicana Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on Saturday night, March 22, 2025, hot and cold Argentine 11-5 super welterweight journeyman Brian Agustin Arregui scored a 10 round split decision upset over the favored Vlad Panin in the televised DAZN feature bout.
Arregui, 11-5 with seven knockouts, Villaguay, Argentina, a loser of his last four bouts, and who had never won at the 10-round distance, waged a power shot war with Panin, now 21-2 with 13 knockouts, Los Angeles, California, by way of Belarus. Panin appeared to be waging a technical battle by scoring for points, with only rare or occasion power punches attempted. Arregui, on the other hand, was landing clean power shots, and power shots in bunches, with some very effective body shots and head shots.
Arregui took command of the final two rounds and own them by landing clean power shots. Panin took them, and landed some jab counters. Panin needed to win the last two rounds to draw on the scorecards.
The issue with this bout hinged on the expression ‘beauty is in the eyes of the beholder’. One judge had it 97-93 Panin, seeing Panin as the busier fighter by volume and activity. A second judge had it 97-93 Arregui, seeing Arregui as landing more effective blows overall in seven of the 10 rounds. The final judge had it 99-91 Arregui, meaning Panin’s jab punches were overruled by Arregui and his solid power shots which scored. This was the sort of bout whereby the judges at ringside had the critical birds eye view. It was not an easy bout to score, and the cards went three different ways as a result. However, Arregui put it all on the table in the final championship rounds, and Panin did not, and this apparently was the difference. This was an exciting fight worthy of a rematch.
Before the start of the bout, this report casually remarked to the other reporters at ringside that the 10-5 record of Arregui could be deceiving, and it turned out to be that way. The go-for-broke approach of Arregui left Panin with no ‘Plan B’. You should never underestimate your opponent, and Arregui, who definitely did the work for this bout, apparently studied videos of Panin’s previous bouts.
Panin’s 22-1 record revealed several holes. A six-round loss to 4-1 Moises Fuentes in 2020 in which Fuentes, who never fought again, won four or five rounds on the judges’ scorecards. A six-round majority decision win, a six-round split decision win, and an eight round split decision win meant four technical boxing opponents had given Panin trouble. A power hitter who could take a punch with a solid chin would leave Panin in technical scoring mode unable to get rid of him. A 2024 Panin 10-round decision win over 17-1 Quashawn Toler had Panin winning by only 96-94 on one scorecard. Arregui was the underdog, and power shots were his only real chance on the road of winning, a solid attempt to take Panin out. Panin took all the power shots well, however, he did out win the second half of the bout.
Arregui’s BoxRec rating went from 633 to 139 at super welterweight. Panin went from a welterweight ranking of 33 to 168. A rematch could prove interesting in the future at 10 or 12 rounds, but only if Panin changes his approach and his ability to a higher level. Arregui won despite being ranked 600 places less on Box Rec, and gave new meaning to the confusion of taking a bout with an unknown with a 10-5 record. Arregui was no Carlos Monzon or Juan Domingo Roldan, but in only his second bout outside of Argentina, he comported himself well. An eight-round majority decision loss to 16-3 Wendy Touissant on Long Island in November 2024 could have been a hometown decision.
In the other co-main event, the Arnold Robbins trained junior middleweight Justin Figueroa, 12-0 with 10 knockouts, scored a second-round stoppage of overmatched Mario Gaston Rios, 10-4-1 with seven knockouts, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Rios gave a cautious Figueroa competitive feeling out first round, then got decked when Figueroa landed an overhand right followed by a left jab which sent Rios backwards off the ropes and down to the canvas. Rios got up, but referee Ricky Vera immediately halted the obvious mismatch at 2:34 of the second round. Figueroa showed world championship potential and is clearly worthy of better opposition.
Tropicana Hotel and Casino Atlantic City Undercard Results
Damian Tinnerello Win 4 Jose Edgardo Perdomo, Super Welterweights
Unbeaten 5-0 Berlin, New Jersey prospect Tinnerello wins 40-35, 39-35, 39-35 on scorecards
Bruce Seldon Jr. TKO 1 Gabriel Costa, Heavyweights (0:53)
Wild-eyed son of former WBA World Heavyweight champion Bruce Seldon now 5-0. Seldon decked Costa early, and referee Ricky Gonzalez halted contest. In all of his eight losses, the Brazilian 4-8-1 Costa, fighting out of Woburn, Massachusetts, has been kayoed eight times in the first two rounds, so no surprise here at how this one ended.
Cali Box Win 4 Victor Pradis, Super Middleweights
5-0 Franklin Township, New Jersey prospect Box wins 40-35, 40-35, 39-36 on the scorecards.
Julio Sanchez III (Pro Debut) Win 4 Douglas Leon Diggs, Super Lightweights
Boxing son of former fighter Julio Sanchez, hailing from Galloway, New Jersey, wins pro debut over 0-4 Diggs by scores of 40-36, 40-36, 39-37. Diggs was in condition with a good defense, and scored when he threw, which was not often. Sanchez was a bit busier and won.
Real Combat Media Head Boxing Correspondent Robert Brizel interviews undefeated Atlantic City junior middleweight prospect Justin Figueroa after his second round knockout win at The Tropicana, March 22, 2025. @realcombatmedia #boxing #boxeo #boxingnews #RETWEET #canelocrawford pic.twitter.com/ytniZBLkmm
— @robertbrizelboxing (@robertbrizelbox) March 26, 2025
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