SPORTS SHORTS 208: MARK MAGSAYO AIMS AT WBC FEATHERWEIGHT CHAMPION GARY RUSSEL OR ANY OTHER AVAILABLE TITLIST
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 01 Sep 2021
Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo scored a magnificent 10th-round annihilation of Mexican former Julio Ceja, former WBC world super bantamweight champion, and he could arrange a world title shot possibly late this year or early next year 2022.
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Magsayo (23-0, 16 KOs) said MP Promotions president Sean Gibbons told him that he could finally be getting a chance at a world championship if he defeats Ceja before their tussle last August 21.
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“According to Sir Sean Gibbons, my promoter, that once I will win this fight [against Ceja], he will arrange a world title shot next fight. That's my dream, that's what I ask from him,” said Magsayo.
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Getting a crack at the world title means facing deadlier opponents since the featherweight division is filled with dangerous challengers and champions.
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Magsayo’s victory over Ceja during their World Boxing Council featherweight title eliminator at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada catapulted him to the number one contender rank for the WBC title held by American Gary Russell, Jr. (31-1, 18 KOs).
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Magsayo said he wants to be next in line for the title shot at the WBC featherweight belt against champ Russell. And he is confident he doesn’t see himself losing that battle.
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“Russell fits me because he’s only speed, I can overpower his speed,” Magsayo was quoted by Ring TV.
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The knockout victory against Ceja was just one of Magsayo's obstacles hurdled to get closer to a world title showdown. The August 21 bout was a WBC featherweight title eliminator with a minor WBO international featherweight title at stake.
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He knocked Ceja out in the undercard of the Manny Pacquiao and Yordenis Ugas fight and that sensational KO is now a candidate for Knockout of the Year.
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Sean Gibbons who represents Magsayo in all negotiations said they are targeting his next fight to be held in November.
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The 33-year-old Russell has been inactive and last fought on February 8, 2020 against Mongolian Tugstsogt Nyambayar by unanimous decision at the PPL Center, Allentown, Pennsylvania to retain his WBC featherweight title.
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Russell also had announced his plan to move up to the lightweight division. This could leave Magsayo to fight for the vacant WBC belt against another opponent, possibly the No. 2 contender.
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Other world featherweight champions are Mexican Leo Santa Cruz (37-2, 19 KOs) of the World Boxing Association, British Kid Galahad (28-1, 17 KOs) of the International Boxing Organization, and Mexican Emanuel Navarrete (34-1, 29 KOs) of the World Boxing Organization.
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Magsayo is willing to fight any of the current world champions. Last year, Magsayo and wife Frances, transferred to the United States to train at the legendary Wild Card Gym in Hollywood under trainer Freddie Roach to realize his dream of a world title.
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He stayed in Los Angeles, California and his last three fights were held on American soil. His battle against Ceja last Sunday was his first at the gambling and fight capital Las Vegas.
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Magsayo won over American Rigoberto Hermosillo by split decision on October 4, 2020 at the Microsoft Theater, Los Angeles, California. Then he stopped American Pablo Cruz by 4th round TKO on April 10, 2021 at the Mohegan Sun Casino, Uncasville, Connecticut.
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Magsayo said he will only return to Bohol when he would have already won a world championship belt. "If I will go home, maybe I could lost the opportunity to fight for a world title shot, it would be a waste. That's why I will do this continuously until I could reach my dream of being a world champion,” Magsayo said.
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Two years have passed after Magsayo fought at the old Bohol Wisdom School Gymnasium in Tagbilaran City, defeating Thailand's Panya Uthok by unanimous decision on August 29, 2019.
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For him it was a dream come true to fight in the undercard of Senator Manny Pacquiao. His impressive come from behind victory against Ceja in their featherweight title eliminator surged Magsayo’s auspicious career to higher stature.
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Magsayo said the preparations for the Ceja fight was his third training with coach Freddie Roach. In his first training with coach Freddie he was not able to adjust because it was the first time he was under the hands of the American, but later the pressure was gone because he was used to the language of Roach.
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He added that training under Roach thoroughly developed him into a better fighter and working together with his idol and boss Manny Pacquiao at the Wild Card Gym was an added incentive.
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“The first time I saw the training of Senator Pacquiao sa gym, I was very happy to see my idol training and it adds to my inspiration for myself,” he said.
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Gilas Pilipinas will face arch rival South Korea after both teams were drawn in Group A of the Fiba World Cup Asian Qualifiers together with New Zealand and India.
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The Philippines is one of the three Fiba World Cup hosts in 2023 with Japan and Indonesia, and they are already automatically qualified for the global basketball tournament.
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Australia, China, Japan and Chinese Taipei belong to Group B. Group C includes Jordan, Lebanon, Indonesia and Saudi Arabia while Iran is clustered with Kazakhstan, Syria and Bahrain in Group D. The top three teams in each group will advance to the second round.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
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