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MASAM SPORTS 64: MARK MAGSAYO IS PREPARING FOR A STRONG MEXICAN FIGHTER IN REY VARGAS By Maloney L. Samaco PhilBoxing.com Tue, 05 Jul 2022  Filipino and Mexican boxing fans are again focusing their attention on Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo, the World Boxing Council (WBC) world featherweight champion in his first mandatory title defense against former world champion Rey Vargas of Mexico scheduled on July 9, 2022 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. * * * This Magsayo versus Vargas world championship bout is very interesting since both fighters are undefeated with very high knockout rates on their professional career records. * * * The 27-year old Magsayo, the pride of Tagbilaran, Bohol seized the WBC world featherweight title belt from then champion Gary Russell Jr. of the United States at Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa, Atlantic City, New Jersey via majority decision, 115-113, 115-113 and 114-114. * * * Magsayo upgraded his immaculate record to 24 wins and 16 knockouts with a 66.67% knockout rate. * * * The 31-year old Vargas came back from a two-year inactivity by winning unanimously against compatriot Leonardo Baez in a ten-rounder on November 6, 2021 in the undercard of the Canelo Alvarez vs. Caleb Plant undisputed super middleweight championship at MGM Grand, Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. * * * Vargas got 35 wins together with 22 knockouts with a KO rate of 62.86% and won his last six bouts from 2017 via unanimous decision. He also won against United States' Ronny Rios, Colombia's Oscar Negrete, Armenia's Azat Hovhannisyan, Venezuela's Franklin Manzanilla, and Japan's Tomoki Kameda. * * * Vargas gave way to Magsayo to challenge Russell Jr. for the featherweight title due to his long absence from a foot injury and fought Baez instead in a stay busy fight. * * * "I’m excited to be fighting in the same venue where my idol Manny Pacquiao fought Marco Antonio Barrera. That was the first fight I ever saw and the reason I started boxing,” said Magsayo as posted on Boxing Scene. * * * Magsayo, who is defending the WBC featherweight title for the first time, is referring to the Alamodome where Manny Pacquiao stunned Mexican legend Marco Antonio Barrera back in 2003. The fight was one of the most iconic wins by Pacquiao throughout his celebrated career. * * * “We are preparing for a strong Mexican fighter in Rey Vargas. Everyone knows what the Philippines vs. Mexico boxing rivalry brings to the ring and I’m excited to display my talents for the boxing fans in Texas and watching around the world,” he added. * * * Vargas (35-0, 22KOs), a former champion at super bantamweight, also sees a thrilling encounter against Magsayo (24-0, 16KOs). * * * “I am very thankful to my team for giving me the opportunity to defend my title in San Antonio,” Magsayo said in a press release. “I’m excited to be fighting in the same venue where my idol Manny Pacquiao fought Marco Antonio Barrera. That was the first fight I ever saw and the reason I started boxing. We are preparing for a strong Mexican fighter in Rey Vargas. Everyone knows what the Philippines vs. Mexico boxing rivalry brings to the ring, and I’m excited to display my talents for the boxing fans in Texas and watching around the world.” * * * “This fight on July 9 will be a great battle against the Filipino warrior Mark Magsayo,” Vargas said. “This is going to be exciting combat from start to finish. We know that he has great power, but we’ll be ready to counter that and anything else he brings to the ring. This is going to be a magnificent fight, and I can’t wait to step in there and compete.” * * * MARK MAGSAYO VS. REY VARGAS FIGHT CARD Mark Magsayo vs. Rey Vargas for Magsayo’s WBC Featherweight title Brandon Figueroa vs. Carlos Castro in a WBC Featherweight eliminator Frank Martin vs. Ricardo Nunez; Lightweight * * * Yahoo Sports reported that the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Lakers are talking about swapping their All-star guards Kyrie Irving and Russell Westbrook. The report further stated that the teams “are actively engaged in discussions.” * * * Both Westbrook and Irving decided to use their one-year, multimillion-dollar options last week, that means they are bound to their teams for one more season where they seemed not suitable. The 33-year-old Westbrook has a $47 million option for the 2022-23 season while Irving, 30, has a $36.5 million extension. * * * According to Yahoo Sports, the teams were not been able to agree on the other aspects of the trade, including draft picks. The Nets reportedly want the Lakers also to get the 30-year-old guard Joe Harris and the $38.6 million left on his contract for two years. * * * The Lakers wanted shooting guard Seth Curry, 31, in his place who has one year left on his contract at $8.5 million, as reported. * * * Despite line-ups filled with superstars, both teams failed on their championship targets last season. The Lakers did not make it to the playoffs, and the Nets were swept by the Boston Celtics in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.  |
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