MASAM SPORTS 66: MARK MAGSAYO LOSES WBC FEATHERWEIGHT TITLE TO REY VARGAS, PH NOW WITHOUT A WORLD CHAMPION
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 11 Jul 2022
Mark Magsayo lost his WBC featherweight belt after a split decision loss to Mexican Rey Vargas at the Alamodome in San Antonio, USA on Saturday, July 9 (Sunday, July 10, Manila time).
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“I’m at a loss of words. I worked hard for this. I want to thank God, my family, [trainer] Nacho [Beristain]. The first title I won, I enjoyed it greatly but this one is special. This win is for me,” said Vargas as quoted by Ringtv. His record is now 36-0 with 22 KOs.
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“It’s this today, no matter what I’ll come back stronger, I’m disappointed but I did my best,” said Magsayo. “I applied the pressure what we trained in the gym, but he was taller and he’s the man today.”
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Legendary Hall of Fame trainers Nacho Beristain and Freddie Roach worked in the corners, with Beristain directing Vargas' corner while Roach coaching Magsayo. The two have encountered many times especially in the classic bouts between Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez.
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Magsayo floored Vargas in the ninth round but it was not enough to convince all the judges as Magsayo suffered the first defeat of his professional career.
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Vargas won in two judges' scorecards with identical scores of 115-112, while the other scored it 114-113 in favor of Magsayo.
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Magsayo's record fell to 24-1 with 16 KOs and joined Nonito Donaire, Jerwin Ancajas, and Rene Mark Cuarto as they all lost their world title belts this year.
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Donaire surrendered his WBC bantamweight belt in a unification bout against Japanese Naoya Inoue in June, while Ancajas yielded his IBF super flyweight title to Argentine Fernando Martinez in February.
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Cuarto faltered in the defense of his IBF minimumweight crown against Mexican Daniel Valladares earlier this July.
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Another former Filipino champion, Johnriel Casimero, was stripped of his WBO bantamweight title for violating weight reduction policies.
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Punches Thrown
Vargas 687
Magsayo 451
Punches Landed
Vargas 196
Magsayo 132
Body Punches
Vargas 45
Magsayo 13
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On July 6, the Portland Trail Blazers officially announced that they have signed NBA Champion Gary Payton II. Payton II helped the Warriors in winning the 2022 NBA Championship against the Boston Celtics last month.
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He averaged 7.1 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game. Payton II is the son of NBA legend Gary Payton.
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Boston Celtics made it to the NBA Finals without a real point guard in their starting lineup. According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the Celtics traded for Indiana Pacers star point guard Malcolm Brogdon. The Celtics now have a real point guard to improve their plays next season.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
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