SPORTS SHORTS 165: MARK MAGSAYO FIGHTS JULIO CEJA IN PACQUIAO-SPENCE UNDERCARD
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 09 Jul 2021
Mark Magsayo will combat former WBC super bantamweight champion Julio Ceja of Mexico on Saturday, August 21 (Sunday, August 22, Philippine time) at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. It will be fought as a supporting bout of the Manny Pacquiao vs. Errol Spence unified welterweight battle.
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Undefeated Magsayo hopes to earn a chance to fight for a world title if ever he hurdles Ceja of Tlalnepantla de Baz State of Mexico, Mexico. The 12-round match will serve as an eliminator and the winner most likely will challenge World Boxing Council champion Gary Russel Jr. of Washington, D.C., United States.
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The 26-year-old Magsayo (22-0, 15 KOs) is currently training at the Wild Card Boxing Club under Freddie Roach in Hollywood, now joining eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao, his chief handler under MP Promotions.
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Magsayo is rated WBC No. 4, WBA No. 5, WBO No.5 and IBF No. 5 featherweight contender. He is also ranked No. 7 by The Ring.
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The 29-year-old Ceja (32-4-1, 28 KOs) is a former WBC super bantamweight champion who recently fought World Boxing Association regular champion Brandon Figueroa to a split draw on November 23, 2019 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada.
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Ceja, now based at Palmdale, California will move up to the featherweight division. On January 23, 2019, Ceja lost by an eighth round knockout to Cuban Guillermo Rigondeaux, who will challenge Johnriel Casimero for the World Boxing Organization bantamweight title on August 14.
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Magsayo of Tagbilaran City, Bohol, had an amazing fourth-round annihilation of Pablo Cruz of Houston, Texas, on April 10 at the Mohegan Sun Casino, Uncasville, Connecticut. But "Magnifico" must not be complacent and has to rigidly prepare for the dangerous Ceja.
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Nicknamed "Pollito" the Spanish slang for "Pretty Boy", Ceja has the experience and skills with 174 rounds of fighting and a high 75.68% KO rate. On October 12, 2013 Ceja defeated Juan José Montes by 10th-round technical knockout to win the WBC Silver bantamweight title at the Hard Rock Hotel, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
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Ceja defeated Hugo Ruiz for the interim WBC world super bantamweight title at the Staples Center, Los Angeles, California on August 29, 2015. The interim title was contested because of Léo Santa Cruz's move to featherweight. Ceja was later promoted as full champion after Santa Cruz vacated.
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Ceja lost the title in a rematch to Ruiz by first round TKO at the Honda Center, Anaheim, California on February 27, 2016. Then he stopped Panama's Anselmo Moreno in the third round on May 27, 2017 at the Panama Centro de Convenciones Amador, Panama City for the vacant WBC Silver superbantamweight title.
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He lost in succession to Venezuela's Franklin Manzanilla by 4th round TKO relinquishing his WBC Silver title and to Rigondeaux by stoppage for the lineal super bantamweight title.
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In his 11th fight, Magsayo won the vacant IBF Youth featherweight title by knocking out Mexico's Rafael Reyes in the fifth round. Then he demolished Mexico's Yardley Suarez by 1st round KO at the StubHub Center, Carson, California in his first defense of the IBF Youth title.
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He outscored Mexico's Eduardo Montoya by unanimous decision on March 27, 2016 to grab the vacant WBO Youth featherweight title.
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Magsayo won the WBO international featherweight title via sixth round TKO of American Chris Avalos on April 23, 2016 at the Cebu City Sports Complex, Cebu City.
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He successfully defended the belt against Nicaragua's Daniel Diaz by first round destruction on July 8, 2017 at the IEC Convention Center, Cebu City.
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His 18th straight victim was Japanese Shota Hayashi by unanimous decision on November 25, 2017 before hometown fans in Tagbilaran City, to retain the WBO international featherweight title.
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Magsayo won another title, the WBC-ABCO featherweight belt, against Thailand's Panya Uthok by unanimous decision on Aug 29, 2019 again in Tagbilaran City. He edged American Rigoberto Hermosillo by split decision on October 4, 2020 at the Microsoft Theater, Los Angeles, California.
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Magsayo had a total of 22 bouts, covering 109 rounds with a KO rate of 68.18%. He was formerly with the ALA Sports Promotions of Cebu. In June 2018 Magsayo signed to Now Boxing Promotions.
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The Phoenix Suns are two wins from its first NBA title with Game 2 victory over Milwaukee Bucks, 118-108 in the NBA Finals. The Suns sank 20 three-pointers on 40 attempts, setting a franchise record for most three-pointers in a playoff game and tying the second-highest total in NBA Finals history.
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Devin Booker scored a team-high 31 points, including seven three-pointers, while forwards Mikal Bridges and Jae Crowder combined for 38 points and six three-pointers.
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NBA History: National Basketball Association (NBA), professional basketball league formed in the United States in 1949 by the merger of two rival organizations, the National Basketball League (founded 1937) and the Basketball Association of America (founded 1946).
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On November 1, 1946, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, the Toronto Huskies hosted the New York Knickerbockers at Maple Leaf Gardens, and it was considered as the first game played in NBA history.
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Philippine Swimmers Luke Gebbie and Remedy Rule secured Olympic berths via universality places by the International Swimming Federation (FINA) to complete the country’s delegation of 19 Olympians.
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Gebbie, who is based in Melbourne, will compete in the men’s 100 meter and 50m freestyle events. Rule will participate in the 200m butterfly and 200m freestyle events.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
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