SPORTS SHORTS 281: MARK MAGSAYO WILL CHALLENGE GARY RUSSEL JR. FOR THE WBC FEATHERWEIGHT TITLE ON JANUARY 22
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 02 Jan 2022
Mark Magsayo will finally fight for the World Boxing Council (WBC) title as mandatory challenger to the WBC featherweight champion Gary Russell Jr. The match will be held on Showtime, in a Premier Boxing Champions event from Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City, New Jersey on Saturday, January 22.
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This after a very impressive 10th-round annihilation of former champion Julio Ceja in the Manny Pacquiao vs. Yordenis Ugas undercard on August 21 at the T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas Strip, Paradise, Nevada.
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“I am very grateful for this opportunity to fight on Showtime for the WBC world title,” said Magsayo as quoted by Ring TV. “This is the fight that I want and have been working hard to get for years. I am going to come to win and to make the most of this chance."
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"There is a reason Gary is a champion, just like there is a reason I became the mandatory challenger. This is going to be a great fight for me to show the world what Filipinos are made of. I’ve had a long road to get to this position and I will be fighting in honor of everyone who helped me get here," added Magsayo.
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Magsayo (23-0, 16 KOs) lashed out Russell (31-1, 18 KOs) for picking a fight only once a year. The American has defended his title for only five times since winning it by a fourth-round stoppage of Mexico’s Jhonny Gonzalez on March 28, 2015 at the Pearl Concert Theater, Paradise, Nevada.
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“Because he fights once a year,” Magsayo said laughing. “That’s why he has held the title the longest.”
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On May 20, 2017, he defended it against Colombian Óscar Escandón by 7th round TKO at the MGM National Harbor, Oxon Hill, Maryland. Then on May 19, 2018 he defeated American Joseph Diaz by unanimous decision at the MGM National Harbor, Oxon Hill, Maryland.
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On May 18, 2019 he stopped Spain's Kiko Martínez by 5th round TKO at the Barclays Center, New York City. Then on February 8, 2020 he won by unanimous decision over Mongolian Tugstsogt Nyambayar on February 8, 2020 at the PPL Center, Allentown, Pennsylvania.
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The announcement of Magsayo's title shot was just a mere formality as he fought in a WBC title eliminator in the undercard of Pacquiao vs. Ugas last August 21. In that tussle, he grabbed up the biggest win of his career which was a come-from-behind knockout of Julio Ceja.
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Russell's only loss was dealt by Ukraine's Vasyl Lomachenko by majority decision on June 21, 2014 at the StubHub Center, Carson, California for the vacant WBO featherweight title.
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Gary Russell Jr. age 33 years, was born in Washington, D.C. He has 32 wins, 1 loss, and 18 wins by KO. The southpaw has fought 160 rounds with a KO rate of 56.25%.
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“I’m ready and I’ve been waiting to display my talents and get back in the ring,” said Russell. “My opponent is one of Manny Pacquiao’s fighters, who is a legend in the sport and I’m pretty sure has a good eye for talent."
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"I’m sure he signed Magsayo for a reason. I know that I’m facing a guy who’s willing to put it all on the line, with everything to gain and nothing to lose," continued Russel.
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As an amateur, Russell won the bantamweight bronze medal at the 2005 World Championships in Mianyang, China. He was defeated by eventual silver medalist Rustamhodza Rahimov of Germany in the semifinals. The gold medal was won by Guillermo Rigondeaux of Cuba.
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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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In the 119 rounds he fought, he had a KO rate of 69.57%. The Tagbilaran, Bohol native is age 26-years and is an orthodox fighter.
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Mark Magsayo’s magnificent stoppage victory over Julio Ceja was named as the Premier Boxing Champions’ Knockout of the Year for 2021. The PBC announced on social media that Magsayo's KO got a total 42.4 percent of the votes from its Twitter and YouTube polls.
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Magsayo’s savage 10th round knockout of Ceja on August 21 prevailed over the stoppages of WBA lightweight champion Gervonta Davis over Mario Barrios, Jaron Ennis over Thomas Dulorme, and Anthony Dirrell over Marcos Hernandez.
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Magsayo then broadcasted over Facebook Live to air his happiness after boxing fans chose the stoppage of Ceja using his thundering right straight as the best knockout of the year.
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“I started a Facebook Live so that I can thank all of you with all my heart for your trust in my abilities to win,” said Magsayo. "Fortunately we won and your votes weren’t wasted. Thank you for all the support.”
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Magsayo is undefeated at 23-0 with 16 knockouts and his win over Ceja was exciting as ever as both fighters went down the canvass a combined total of three times.
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Ceja was the first to crash to the mat in the first but he recovered and went on to put Magsayo to the floor in the fifth. Magsayo, was behind in the score cards, then attacked Ceja in the 10th round to gain his second straight knockout victory in 2021.
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Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach, who trained Magsayo for the fight, congratulated the Boholano knockout specialist on Instagram on Thursday. "Congratulations to Mark "Magnifico" Magsayo on receiving PBC’s 2021 KO of the Year!” posted Roach on Instagram.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
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