Philippines, 16 Sep 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Magsayo coming home only as champ


PhilBoxing.com



Magsayo raises his hands after a come from win against Ceja on Aug. 21, 2021 in Las Vegas.

Mark Magsayo has no plans of coming home until he becomes the world champion and he’s one or two steps away from clinching a title shot. He’s lived in Los Angeles for a year with wife Frances and together, they’re focused on only one thing----to get that belt.

In the recent Manny Pacquiao-Yordenis Ugas undercard, Magsayo avoided impending disaster and scored a dramatic come-from-behind knockout over former WBC superbantamweight champion Julio Ceja at 0:50 of the 10th round. The fight was scheduled for 12 rounds and billed as a WBC title eliminator with the vacant WBO International crown on the line.

“Sobrang saya,” said Magsayo. “Thanks to God na binigyan Niya ako ng lakas. Ang style ni Ceja nakuha ko sa first round at bumagsak kaso pasok siya ng pasok. Nilaro ko yung laro niya kaya natumba ako sa fifth.” With coach Ismael Salas advising in his corner, Ceja bounced back from his early trip to the canvas to sweep the next five rounds on the three judges scorecards. A brutal body attack put Magsayo on the defensive and a left hook to the jaw sent him down in the fifth.

Ceja, 28, hadn’t fought in nearly two years and progressively ran out of steam. Starting the seventh, Magsayo began to pick up and reversed the tide. Ceja continued to come forward but wasn’t as active in throwing so that opened the opportunity for Magsayo to time his counters. In the 10th, Magsayo blasted a right straight through Ceja’s defense. Ceja was on the way down as Magsayo landed another crushing right to the head. The Mexican was out cold on the canvas as Magsayo pulled it out of the fire. Judges Max De Luca and Lisa Giampa had it 86-83 and judge Don Trella, 87-82, all for Ceja after nine rounds.

Magsayo said patience worked its magic. “Sabi ni coach Freddie (Roach) at coach Marvin (Somodio), mapapagod din si Ceja at kung dalhin ako sa corner, yakap lang tapos punta sa gitna ng ring,” he said. “Binantayan niya ang hook ko, hindi yung straight at bumuka na ang kaniyang depensa. Naka-adjust na ako at nakita ko groggy siya sa straight. Doon ako nag-follow up at ‘di na siya makakita.”

MP Promotions head Sean Gibbons said Magsayo may do another tune-up before going for the title. If WBC featherweight champion Gary Russell relinquishes and moves up to superfeatherweight, Magsayo will be pitted against No. 1 contender Rey Vargas for the vacant throne. Vargas, 30, stands 5-10 with a 70 1/2 wingspan and is the former WBC superbantamweight ruler toting a 34-0 record, including 22 KOs. Magsayo, 26, is 5-6 with a 68-inch reach and has a 23-0 record, with 16 KOs.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Joaquin Henson.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Kingsley “The Black Lion” Ibeh To headline historic “Legacy Nights” Inaugural Pro Boxing event in El Salvador
    , Tue, 16 Sep 2025
  • Smarts over power
    By Joaquin Henson, , Tue, 16 Sep 2025
  • HALL OF FAME FLIES FLAGS AT HALF-STAFF FOR TWO-DIVISION CHAMPION RICKY HATTON
    , Tue, 16 Sep 2025
  • Kazakhstan tops the medal table at the inaugural World Boxing Championships 2025 thanks to victory in the final bout of the competition
    , Tue, 16 Sep 2025
  • THRILLA IN MANILA GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY 13: JOE FRAZIER’S HUMBLE BEGINNINGS AS AN AMATEUR FIGHTER
    By Maloney L. Samaco, , Mon, 15 Sep 2025
  • A New King, A New Challenger: Turki Alalshikh Proposes Crawford-Benavidez While Canelo Alvarez Faces Defeat with Humility
    By Dong Secuya, , Mon, 15 Sep 2025
  • Highly Questionable Title Eliminator
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Mon, 15 Sep 2025
  • Yoseline Perez Earns Silver Medal at Inaugural World Boxing Championships
    , Mon, 15 Sep 2025
  • 21-year-old Filipino wins at Germany rapid chess tournament
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 15 Sep 2025
  • Nagoya Nightmare: Naoya Inoue Notches One-Sided Decision over Murodjon Akhmadaliev
    , Mon, 15 Sep 2025
  • Inoue’s Philippine Connection: Which Pinoy Super Bantamweight Could Challenge “The Monster?”
    By Carlos Costa, , Mon, 15 Sep 2025
  • Yoseline Perez Advances to the Finals at the World Boxing Championships Perez Set to Face Chinese Taipei’s Hsiao-Wen Huang for 54-Kilogram World Title
    , Mon, 15 Sep 2025
  • Canelo Gets Outboxed, Loses Undisputed Title to Crawford
    By Carlos Costa, , Sun, 14 Sep 2025
  • A Masterpiece of Boxing: Terence Crawford Dethrones Canelo Alvarez in Historic Showdown
    By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 14 Sep 2025
  • LEWIS CROCKER IS CROWNED THE NEW IBF WORLD WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPION
    , Sun, 14 Sep 2025
  • Battle of Undefeated: Callum Walsh Vanquishes Fernando Vargas Jr.
    By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 14 Sep 2025
  • Undercard Inferno: Mbilli and Martinez Deliver a Super Middleweight War Ending in a Thrilling Draw
    By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 14 Sep 2025
  • Crawford to defy odds?
    By Joaquin Henson, , Sun, 14 Sep 2025
  • Clash of Titans: The Final Predictions for Canelo Álvarez vs. Terence Crawford
    By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 14 Sep 2025
  • Weigh-In Results: Naoya Inoue vs. Murodjon Akhmadaliev
    , Sun, 14 Sep 2025
  • Inoue and Akhmadaliev Make Weight for Sunday's Battle, Watch it LIVE on Facebook!
    By Carlos Costa, , Sun, 14 Sep 2025
  • IIEE North Cotabato and Metro Central are the Golden Champion on 3x3 Basketball and 3x3 Chess
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 14 Sep 2025
  • Sydney Sy Tancontian is Female Awardee of Sports Hero of the Year
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 13 Sep 2025
  • Canelo Alvarez vs Terence Crawford: Size Matters
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 13 Sep 2025
  • BOOTS TALKS SPARRING WITH CANELO IN ‘DAY IN THE LIFE’
    , Sat, 13 Sep 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.