MASAM SPORTS 62: MARK MAGSAYO'S FIRST TITLE DEFENSE AGAINST REY VARGAS
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 02 Jul 2022
WBC world featherweight champion Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo will face former WBC super bantamweight champion Rey Vargas in a battle of unbeaten fighters that headlines the boxing extravaganza on July 9 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas in an event presented by Premier Boxing Champions.
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“Saturday, July 9 will be topped by a showdown between champions as the Philippines’ Mark Magsayo makes his first title defense against the unbeaten Mexican, Rey Vargas, who will be looking to become a two-division champion at Alamodome on July 9 in San Antonio,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions.
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The Filipino world champion Magsayo (24-0, 16 KOs) is from Tagbilaran, Bohol and became the latest champion from the Philippines on January 22 when he outpointed long reigning champion Gary Russell Jr. to wrest the world featherweight title. The 26-year-old unbeaten title holder earned the opportunity by knocking out former world titlist Julio Ceja in the 10th round of the match after trailing on the judges' scorecards on August 21, 2021.
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Magsayo who is under the tutelage of Freddie Roach in California scored 12-round decision victories over Shoto Hayashi in November 2017 and Ramiro Robles in September 2016, and a sixth-round stoppage of former title challenger Chris Avalos in April 2016.
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The former WBC superbantamweight world champion, Vargas (35-0, 22 KOs), returned from injury to score a lopsided decision victory over Leonardo Baez in his featherweight debut in November 2021 on the undercard of Canelo Alvarez vs. Caleb Plant. The 31-year-old Mexican travelled to U.K. to win his title in February 2017, scoring a decision over previously unbeaten Gavin McDonnell.
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A native of Mexico City, Vargas made five successful defenses of his title, winning over strong contenders Oscar Negrete in December 2017, Ronny Rios in August 2017 and Azat Hovhannisyan in May 2018. His fifth title defense was a unanimous decision win over former world champion Tomoki Kameda in July 2019.
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"Vargas is also a great boxer. I watched his fight and knew his style. This is a good matchup and it’s going to be another challenge for me,” said the 26-year-old Magsayo as quoted by Manila Bulletin.
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“I’d be facing a boxer with a different style again. Interesting matchup because he’s undefeated and tall,” added Magsayo, who was with MP Promotions president Sean Gibbons at the virtual PSA Forum.
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Gibbons disclosed that the bout against Vargas was already set when the Mexican boxer was the mandatory challenger for then champion Gary Russell but was injured.
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“We got the opportunity to fight Gary knowing that if we won, Rey Vargas was our first defense. So it was already predetermined before Mark fought that [next] would be Rey Vargas which were fine with,” said Gibbons.
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“When you’re the champ, whoever they offer you, whoever they put in front of you, that’s who you need to fight when it’s mandatory,” added the international matchmaker.
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WINNERS OF THE AMATEUR BOXING SHOWDOWN at City Terminal in connection with the 62nd Founding Anniversary of the Province of Southern Leyte:
NILO BERNALES of Combado, Maasin WUD 29 KGS. KIDS
JHON CHRISTIAN GESALAN of Abgao, Maasin WUD 29 KGS. KIDS
BIEN ELLEZAR of Asuncion, Maasin WRSC 36 KGS. KIDS
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NELSON LAMBO of Tagnipa, Maasin WUD 38 KGS. SCHOOL BOYS
ALMER ZACH ENTIA of Asuncion, Maasin WRSC 46 KGS. SCHOOL BOYS
BRENT LLOYD MAGDULA of Abgao, Maasin WRSC 59 KGS. SCHOOL BOYS
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MARLOU ARBIOL of Combado, Maasin WRSC 44 KGS. JUNIOR BOYS
VINCENT CABA of Mambajao, Maasin WSD 47 KGS. JUNIOR BOYS
JESSIE JAVIER of Abgao. Maasin WSD 50 KGS. JUNIOR BOYS
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MARK ANTHONY BOLO of Maasin WRSC 51 KGS. JUNIOR BOYS
ARJAY VINAS of Ichon, Macrohon WRSC 52 KGS. JUNIOR BOYS
SHOOVEE CAMPANILLA of Soro-soro, Maasin WRSC 56 KGS. JUNIOR BOYS
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AUBREY SILOT of Padre Burgos WRSC 48 KGS. YOUTH BOYS
CHARLIE LINGO of Macrohon WUD 50 KGS. YOUTH BOYS
JEMAR JAPOS of Asuncion, Maasin WSD 53 KGS. YOUTH BOYS
JOHN PATRICK COBINA of Maasin WUD 56 KGS. YOUTH BOYS
MIKE RAHYAN LUBON of Combado, Maasin WRSC 57 KGS. YOUTH BOYS
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LOUIE JAY FORZADO of Lib-og, Maasin WUD 44 KGS. ELITE BOYS
ROEL GALO of Maasin WRSC 53 KGS. ELITE BOYS
ARLANDO SENOC of Padre Burgos WRSC 53 KGS. ELITE BOYS
REY RAGAS of Combado WSD 54 KGS. ELITE BOYS
KYRON VINAS of Padre Burgos WRSC 56 KGS. ELITE BOYS
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JAYVEE DONAIRE of San Rafael, Maasin WUD 54 LGS. ELITE BOYS
JANREL CAPISTRANO of Rizal, Maasin WUD 63 KGS. ELITE BOYS
KENJI TELEN of Abgao, Maasin WRSC 68 KGS. ELITE BOYS
RICHARD BACALA of Soro-soro, Maasin WUD 80 KGS. ELITE BOYS
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
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