MASAM SPORTS 22: MARK MAGSAYO DEFEATS GARY RUSSELL JR. SIDELIGHTS
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 25 Jan 2022
Mark "Magnifico" Magsayo joined the list of Filipino boxing champions after he seized the WBC featherweight title from Gary Russell Jr. with a majority decision win at the Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
The Tagbilaran City native became the fifth active Filipino champion joining IBF minimumweight champion Rene Cuarto, IBF junior bantamweight champion Jerwin Ancajas, WBO bantamweight champion John Riel Casimero, and WBC bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire.
Magsayo is now rated No. 4 by The Ring. At No. 1 is Emanuel Navarete of Mexico, No. 2 is Mauricio Lara of Mexico, and No. 3 is Josh Warrington of UK. Behind Magsayo are Kiko Martinez of Spain, Leigh Wood of UK, Kid Galahad of UK, Tugstsogt Nyambayar of Mongolia, Xu Can of China and Joet Gonzalez of US.
Russell became WBC featherweight champion when he stopped Jhonny González by 4th round TKO on March 28, 2015. On January 22, 2022, Magsayo ended Russell’s reign of six years and 10 months, which was the longest active title rule before the bout.
Before the fight, Magsayo said Russell is not expecting that he is fast and have speed, too. The challenger added he is not all power. And that’s what the American champ thinks about him. He is out to prove to Russell that he is not slow or weak.
Magsayo proves it by connecting 150 total punches out of 543 thrown which dominated Russell's 69 out of 323. Magnifico also landed 148 power punches out of 340 thrown which is more superior than Russell's 58 out of 259.
Russell revealed before the fight that he had an injury but did not divulge what was it until it became obvious during the fight when he complained of an injured right shoulder between rounds four and five as he grimaced in pain. He was practically only using a left hand from then until the final bell.
Russell said he would have easily beaten Magsayo if he was not injured. “I’m gonna beat that ass worse than I did tonight. We are definitely trying to see if we can get a rematch. Of course, I’m going to get this thing figured out,” he said.
Magsayo said he is open for a rematch, but the final decision will be depending on his promoter and manager Sean Gibbons of Manny Pacquiao (MP) Promotions.
Judge Mark Consentino had Magsayo winning rounds 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 10, and 11 and Russell in rounds 3, 5, 8, 9, and 12 for a score of 115-113 in favor of Magsayo.
Judge Henry Eugene Grant gave Magsayo rounds 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 10, and 11 and Russell had rounds 3, 4, 8, 9, 10 and 11 for a score of 115-113 in favor of Magsayo.
Judge Lynne Carter scored it a 114-114 draw with Magsayo getting rounds 1, 2, 7, 9, 10, and 11 and Russell got rounds 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, and 12.
Some media scorecards:
Bob Velin (former USA Today boxing editor/writer): Magsayo won
BoxingScene: 115-113 Magsayo
Cliff Rold (BoxingScene): 116-112 Magsayo
DAZN News: 115-113 Magsayo
Marcos Villegas (FightHubTV): Magsayo won
Matthew Aguilar (El Paso Times/AP Sports/USA Today Sports): 119-109 Magsayo
Douglass Fischer (Ring Magazine): 116-112 Magsayo
Francisco A. Salazar (Boxingscene/Ring magazine/VC Star): 117-111 Magsayo
Adam Abramowitz (Saturday Night Boxing/Ring City/Ring Magazine): Magsayo won
Steve Kim: Magsayo won
David Phillips (NYFights): 118-110 Magsayo
Schwan Humes (MMARatings.net/Severemma.com): Magsayo won
Wil Esco (Bad Left Hook): draw
Scott Christ (Bad Left Hook): 115-113 Russell
Lukie Ketelle (ITRBoxing): Magsayo won
@BarbosaBox (ESPN Knock Out): 116-112 Magsayo
Miguel Angel Maravilla (Fightnews.com): 117-111 Magsayo
Alden Chodash (The Fight City): 115-113 Magsayo
Dan Attias (Fox Sports AUS/Ring magazine/The Roar Sports): 116-112 Magsayo
2 Beers Podcast: 118-111 Magsayo
Boxing News 24: 115-113 Magsayo
Boxing and Basketball: 115-113 Russell
@Ringside_Fracas: 116-112 Magsayo
Nissi Icasiano (IBTimes Sports): 115-113 Magsayo
Kacper Bartosiak (TVP Sport/bokser.org): 116-112 Magsayo
Gabriel Morency (SportsGrid): Magsayo won
Malachi Williams (New Media Today USA Boxing) : Magsayo
Source: Reddit.com
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
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