Philippines, 05 Feb 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Magsayo, Suarez chase dreams


PhilBoxing.com




The superfeatherweight or junior lightweight division has been a favorite stomping ground for Filipino fighters. It’s the weight class where Flash Elorde, Rene Barrientos, Ben Villaflor, Rolando Navarrete, Joselito Rivera and Manny Pacquiao reigned as world champions. Today, two Filipinos are in contention to join the elite corps in the 130-pound ranks.

Charly Suarez, 36, and Mark Magsayo, 29, are in the running for title shots among the four major governing bodies. Suarez is rated No. 1 by WBO, No. 4 by IBF and No. 15 by WBC while Magsayo is ranked No. 3 by WBC and WBO, No. 4 by WBA and No. 5 by IBF. The current belt-holders are WBC’s O’Shaquile Foster, WBA’s Lamont Roach, IBF’s Anthony Cacace and WBO’s Emanuel Navarrete. Both Suarez and Magsayo couldn’t care less whom they face. They’re ready to go for broke. Suarez boasts an unblemished 18-0 record, with 10 KOs and his last five outings were held abroad, one in Vietnam, one in Australia and the last three in the US. He’s in line to battle Navarrete as the mandatory challenger.

Navarrete, 29, is fresh from demolishing Oscar Valdez on a sixth round knockout in Phoenix last Saturday and will likely be ready for another defense within the first quarter of next year. The Mexican’s record is 38-2-1, with 31 KOs. One of his opponents was Mig Elorde who was stopped in the fourth round in a bid for the WBO superbantamweight crown in Las Vegas in 2019. His other Filipino knockout victims were Jeo Santisima, Glenn Porras and Jhon Gemino.

Magsayo is a former WBC featherweight titlist and could be ranged against Foster whose record is 23-3, with 12 KOs compared to Magnifico’s 26-2, with 17 KOs. Foster, 31, is coming off a win by a split 12-round decision over Robinson Conceicao to regain the WBC throne he previously yielded to the Brazilian. He holds a win over Rey Vargas who dethroned Magsayo on a split verdict as WBC featherweight ruler in San Antonio, Texas, in 2022.

Magsayo will take on Ecuador’s Bryan Mercado in an eight-rounder in Long Beach tomorrow. His coach Marvin Somodio said Foster could be next after Mercado. “Sa tingin ko, magandang kalaban si Foster at sa WBC mataas ang kaniyang rank,” he noted. “Maganda ang kundisyon ni Mark. Everyday, siya nag-training after ng last fight. Mas matured at relax si Mark lumaban at ‘di tulad dati na gigil. Mas na set-up niya yung combinations at power punches. Mas malakas siya ngayon sa 130 pounds kasi ‘di na siya masyadong hirap sa timbang. Si Mercado, stay busy na laban para ‘di sayang ang training.”

Somodio said he witnessed Navarrete’s win over Valdez. “Nandoon ako sa laban at undercard yung boxer ko si Steven Navarro,” he continued. “Lakas ni Navarrete. Kaya ni Charly basta 100 percent kundisyon kasi may skill at power siya.” It’s a race between Suarez and Magsayo as to who locks in a title shot ahead.


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


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • The Past Week in Action 4 February 2025: Benavidez Beats Morrell; Fulton Outpoints Figueroa; Shields Defeats Perkins
    By Eric Armit, , Wed, 05 Feb 2025
  • Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford: Historic Riyadh Season Blockbuster Set for Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas
    , Wed, 05 Feb 2025
  • Xander Zayas: “This is the Most Important Fight of My Career!”
    , Wed, 05 Feb 2025
  • Mano Mano sa Candelaria 3: Gemino Outpoints Mancito
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Wed, 05 Feb 2025
  • THE TALENTED AND UNDEFEATED SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT DARIUS “DFG” FULGHUM RETURNS AS CO-MAIN EVENT FOR DUARTE VS. PROGRAIS
    , Wed, 05 Feb 2025
  • IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in Niš to highlight the ascending stars of female boxing
    , Wed, 05 Feb 2025
  • Kaipo Gallegos Shines in Las Vegas Victory Over Leonardo Padilla
    , Wed, 05 Feb 2025
  • World Boxing membership grows to 72 National Federations as Executive Board approves four new applications from Egypt, Gambia, Kiribati and Grenada
    , Wed, 05 Feb 2025
  • Deonte Brown signs with prominent manager Trifon Petrov
    , Wed, 05 Feb 2025
  • Memphis Grizzlies Repeat Over SA Spurs, Overtake Houston Rockets for 2nd in West
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Tue, 04 Feb 2025
  • WEIGHTS FROM NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE
    , Tue, 04 Feb 2025
  • IM Michael Concio and Chester Neil Reyes banner IIEE Quezon to win the quarterfinals of the PTC World Engineering Day online Chess Tournament
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 04 Feb 2025
  • THURSDAY: Arthur Biyarslanov-Mohamed Mimoune & Heavyweight KO Artist Bakhodir Jalolov’s Return to Stream LIVE and Exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+
    , Tue, 04 Feb 2025
  • Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford: The Super Fight of 2025 Officially Set for Las Vegas
    , Tue, 04 Feb 2025
  • Two-Time Olympic Gold Medalist Claressa Shields Makes History and Captures the Undisputed Heavyweight Title at Super Brawl Sunday in Flint, Mich.
    , Tue, 04 Feb 2025
  • Granite Chin Promotions bringing pro boxing back to Bridgewater “Fight Night at the Vets Club III”
    , Tue, 04 Feb 2025
  • ATLANTIC CITY BOXING HALL OF FAME ANNOUNCES CLASS OF 2025
    , Tue, 04 Feb 2025
  • Chester Neil Reyes rules 2025 Santa Maria Town Fiesta Chess Challenge
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 03 Feb 2025
  • Taduran defense may be rematch
    By Joaquin Henson, , Sun, 02 Feb 2025
  • PFF turns over balls to DavNor
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 02 Feb 2025
  • David Benavidez Overcomes Knockdown to Unify Light Heavyweight Titles in Thrilling Bout Against David Morrell Jr.
    , Sun, 02 Feb 2025
  • Clash of Titans: Drama Builds for Canelo vs. Crawford Superfight as Critics, Cash, and Concerns Collide
    , Sun, 02 Feb 2025
  • WBC Greenlights Noel Mikaelyan’s Cruiserweight Title Shot; Don King Vows to "Make Boxing Great Again"
    , Sun, 02 Feb 2025
  • Muslim Gadzhimagomedov victorious in IBA Champions’ Night Moscow main event
    , Sun, 02 Feb 2025
  • 3 Pinoy boxers lose in Japan
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 02 Feb 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.