Philippines, 19 Sep 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


MASAM SPORTS 8: WILL MARK MAGSAYO'S LONG-TIME DREAM FOR A WORLD TITLE COME TRUE?


PhilBoxing.com




Undefeated world featherweight contender Mark "Magnifico" Magsayo has long been dreaming of fighting for a world title. The chance to become world champion will come on January 22 when he fights longtime WBC featherweight champion Gary Allen Russell Jr. at the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

“I am very grateful for this opportunity to fight on Showtime for the WBC world title,” said Magsayo as told to Boxing Scene.

Magsayo is fresh from a magnificent 10th round knockout of former WBC world super bantamweight champion Julio Ceja of Mexico in their WBC title eliminator on August 21 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas in the Manny Pacquiao vs. Yordenis Ugas undercard. His unblemished record improved to 23-0 with 16 KOs.

Russell (31-1, 18 KOs) has been the WBC featherweight champion since 2015 but has fought only once in the last two years, winning by a convincing unanimous decision over Tugstsogt Nyambayar of Mongolia to defend his title belt for the fifth time last February 8, 2020 at the PPL Center, Allentown, Pennsylvania.

His only career loss was dealt by Ukraine's Vasiliy Lomachenko on June 21, 2014 by majority decision at the StubHub Center, Carson, California, U.S. for the vacant WBO featherweight title.

Russel finally won the world title over Mexico's Jhonny Gonzalez by TKO4 on March 28, 2015 at the Pearl Concert Theater, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.grabbing the WBC featherweight title.

Magsayo highly respected Russell but the WBO international featherweight titlist from Tagbilaran City, Bohol is extremely energized to realize his long time dream of becoming a world champion.

“This is the fight that I want and have been working hard to get for years. I am going to come to win and to make the most of this chance,” Magsayo said. “There is a reason Gary is a champion, just like there is a reason I became the mandatory challenger."

"This is going to be a great fight for me to show the world what Filipinos are made of. I’ve had a long road to get to this position and I will be fighting in honor of everyone who helped me get here," added Magsayo.

Mark Magsayo’s staggering knockout win over Julio Ceja was named as the Premier Boxing Champions’ Knockout of the Year for 2021. The PBC posted on social media that Magsayo earned a combined 42.4 percent of the votes cast on its Twitter and YouTube polls.

Magsayo’s savage 10th round knockout over the point leading Ceja on August 21 got more votes than the stoppages of WBA lightweight champion Gervonta Davis over Mario Barrios. Jaron Ennis over Thomas Dulorme, and Anthony Dirrell over Marcos Hernandez.

Magsayo and Ceja went down the canvas a combined three times. Ceja was down first but he regained dominance to send Magsayo to the floor in the fifth round. Magsayo pummeled and decked Ceja in the 10th to get his second straight knockout in 2021.

Magsayo was also named Prospect of the Year by the World Boxing Council because of the KO triumph over Ceja in their world title eliminator.

“Thank you to everyone who voted and everyone who made me a part of this. I will keep working hard,” the former ALA Gym fighter wrote on social media on Wednesday.

The WBC Comeback of the Year, on the other hand went to Nonito Donaire Jr., who regained his status being a world champion by knocking out Nordine Oubaali in the fourth round in May 29 to seize the WBC bantamweight title, 18 months after losing his WBA title in a Fight of the Year with Naoya Inoue.

Magsayo may have a hard time winning a title belt, according to former two-division champion Gerry Peñalosa as quoted by GMA News. "First of all he has to improve his stamina because if he is going to fight world-caliber champions in the featherweight division they are all good, there is no easy fight. Second is his defense, he can be erratic and overly excited to finish,” Peñalosa said.

Peñalosa would like to see Magsayo win a world title, but he also believes that the American might be too much for the Filipino challenger. "Russell is way better than Ceja so it cannot be compared. Russell is on a different level stylistically. He has good footwork and hand speed though if he gets hit by Mark he can go down,” he said.

We hope Magsayo will hit Russel with a lucky punch and score an upset victory.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimàn: A wonderful spectacle in Las Vegas
    By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Fri, 19 Sep 2025
  • TRAINER OF THE YEAR BOB SANTOS TO MAKE BROADCASTING DEBUT AT BOXLAB PROMOTIONS' “NIGHT OF CHAMPIONS” ON SEPTEMBER 19
    , Fri, 19 Sep 2025
  • Five Boxers Closed Fights Early via RSC During Wednesday’s Competition
    , Fri, 19 Sep 2025
  • “Thrilla” card takes shape
    By Joaquin Henson, , Thu, 18 Sep 2025
  • Wishing Best to Jayson Vayson in his World Title Challenge!
    By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 18 Sep 2025
  • Vayson aims to make history
    By Joaquin Henson, , Thu, 18 Sep 2025
  • KAIPO GALLEGOS TRAINING CAMP NOTES
    , Thu, 18 Sep 2025
  • Day Two of 2025 USA Boxing National Open Delivers 108 Action-Packed Bouts in Tulsa
    , Thu, 18 Sep 2025
  • Bryce Mills Boxes James Bernadin At del Lago Resort & Casino On Thursday, Oct. 30, in Waterloo, NY
    , Thu, 18 Sep 2025
  • Caribbean Clash Returns Friday, November 7th at Gulfstream Park Casino in Hallandale, Florida
    , Thu, 18 Sep 2025
  • VM Sotto, City Council Recognize GM Joey Antonio
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 18 Sep 2025
  • Larida is Southern Coach of the Year
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 18 Sep 2025
  • D.C. Knockout Artist Scooter Davis Signs Promotional Contract with Top Rank
    , Thu, 18 Sep 2025
  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 15 SEPTEMBER 2025: Crawford Snatches Canelo's Undisputed Crown at 168 Lbs; Inoue Defeats Akhmadliev to Retain 4 Superbantam Belts; Crocker Outpoints Donovan
    By Eric Armit, , Wed, 17 Sep 2025
  • TICKET NEWS: EUBANK JR-BENN II ON SALE FROM THIS WEDNESDAY
    , Wed, 17 Sep 2025
  • “Night of Champions” Returns to Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando on September 19
    , Wed, 17 Sep 2025
  • Canelo-Crawford: The Consolidation of Boxing’s New Commercial Empire
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 17 Sep 2025
  • A New Era for Boxing: Canelo vs. Crawford Shatters Global Viewership Records on Netflix
    By Dong Secuya, , Wed, 17 Sep 2025
  • Crawford Not the First Lightweight to Distinguish Himself at Super Middleweight
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Wed, 17 Sep 2025
  • Kurt Scoby and Josh Popper Headline Boxing Insider Card September 19 in Times Square
    , Wed, 17 Sep 2025
  • Green and Gold 2025: Amateur Boxing’s International Gathering in Bolivia
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 17 Sep 2025
  • Pakistan's Sameer Khan Set to Battle for UBO Youth World Title in Brico Santig’s Sep 27 Show in Thailand
    By Carlos Costa, , Tue, 16 Sep 2025
  • SAMBO Pilipinas is Southern NSA of the Year 2025
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 16 Sep 2025
  • 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




  •  



     
    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.