Will We See A Magsayo-Russell Rematch?
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 18 Jan 2023
Will the World Boxing Council (WBC) order a rematch between former immediate champions Mark Magsayo and Gary Russell Jr this time in a world title eliminator?
This becomes a possibility as Magsayo's originally nominated title eliminator foe, Ghana's Isaac Dogboe, has passed up on that fight for an immediate chance to win his second world championship, the soon to be vacated WBO featherweight crown against Cuban Robbiesy Ramirez where the two are rated in top three.
Magsayo and Dogboe are rated #3 and #2 by the WBC just behind Brandon Figueroa who has been ordered to fight unified WBC-WBO super bantamweight titlist Stephen Fulton for the WBC featherweight title to be vacated by current titleholder Rey Vargas who on the other hand will be fighting top contender American O'Shaquie Foster on February 11 for the WBC super featherweight crown left by Shakur Stevenson.
But Dogboe, who is also rated #2 by the WBO, has opted to fight WBO #3 Ramirez for the WBO featherweight title to be vacated by Emanuel Navarette who will be taking on top contender Liam Wilson on February 2 in Glendale, California for the WBO super featherweight championship also left vacant by the super talented Shakur Stevenson.
Currently, WBC has Mauricio Lara rated #4 behind Magsayo but the power punching Mexican is already scheduled to challenge for the WBA featherweight title against current UK champion Leigh Wood.
That leaves Russell who is rated WBC #5 as the next available opponent for Magsayo for the WBC mandated title eliminator to face the winner of the Fulton-Figueroa fight for the WBC featherweight championship.
Incidentally the Fulton vs Figueroa will also be a rematch of their first fight at super bantamweight won closely by Fulton who defended his WBO belt while annexing Figueroa's WBC crown.
If the WBC chooses Russell, the fight versus Magsayo will likewise be a rematch of their first bout held in January last year where Magsayo ended Russell's more than six year reign as WBC world featherweight champion via upset 12 round majority decision.
Magsayo lost his WBC belt by split decision to Vargas in July 2022 in a clash of undefeated fighters held at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.
Should the WBC bypass Russell who reportedly is also planning to move up in weight, Magsayo may face either of the next highest rated contenders, namely: former world champion Josh Warrington at #6 and fellow Briton Michael Conlan at #7.
In any event, Magsayo will be the constant in the featherweight title eliminator equation as far as the WBC is concerned.
The author Teodoro Medina Reynoso is a veteran boxing radio talk show host living in the Philippines. He can be reached at teddyreynoso@yahoo.com and by phone 09215309477.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Teodoro Medina Reynoso.
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