Philippines, 03 Jul 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


All or nothing for Magsayo


PhilBoxing.com


MP Promotions head Sean Gibbons knows it’s an all-or-nothing deal for WBC No. 2 superfeatherweight Mark Magsayo as he can’t afford to lose his next two fights in lining himself up for a title shot. Last Saturday, Magsayo decked Ecuador trialhorse Bryan Mercado twice in the first round and twice in the second before referee Gerard White stopped the scheduled sixer at Thunder Studios in Long Beach, California.

Gibbons plans another tune-up for Magsayo, possibly on the same card as the Eduardo (Rocky) Hernandez-Rene (El Bravo) Tellez Giron bout in Oaxaca, Mexico, on Feb. 28. If Magsayo and Hernandez win their next outings, they’ll be matched against each other in a title eliminator with the survivor to challenge the WBC 130-pound champion.

“Mark’s been in the gym for six months and I didn’t want him to go without a fight ‘til the end of the year,” said Gibbons, explaining why he set up the Mercado match. “He’s got to be focused on beating Hernandez and at this point of his career, it’s all or nothing. The dream is for Mark to become a two-time WBC champion.”

Magsayo, who once wore the WBC featherweight crown, is itching to return to the throne, this time in a higher weight class. “Every single day, it’s all what Mark does is box, box, box 24.7 with coach Marvin (Somodio) and him putting in the time,” said Gibbons. “Even though Mercado wasn’t much of a fight, it definitely put Mark through the motions of making the weight, getting the body ready and now he can take a couple of weeks off for the holidays then get right back at it because he’s gonna be fighting for the world title.”

Magsayo said he took the opportunity to experiment a new point of attack against Mercado. “Masaya ako kasi nabigyan ng opportunity ni Sir Sean pagbutihin ko pa sa sunod na fight na mas malaki,” he said. “Masaya din si coach Marvin kasi na-execute ko ang gameplan at ang prinaktis namin. Gusto ko ma-try ang body shot.” It was Magsayo’s left hook to Mercado’s rib cage that produced four knockdowns.

Hernandez, 27, packs a 36-2 record, with 32 KOs. In October last year, the Mexican battled O’Shaquie Foster for the WBC superfeatherweight belt in Cancun and led on two of the three judges’ scorecards when he was dropped and stopped in the 12th round. Hernandez has since come back to win two in a row. Gibbons said if and when Magsayo turns back Hernandez sometime in May, he’ll be the mandatory challenger for Foster who still reigns as WBC strap-holder.


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


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • No issues with fight ref
    By Joaquin Henson, , Thu, 03 Jul 2025
  • Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimàn: Grand Muay Thai event in Verona
    By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Thu, 03 Jul 2025
  • Morelle McCane and Rene Camacho Advance to Quarterfinals of World Boxing Cup: Astana 2025
    , Thu, 03 Jul 2025
  • 3 Division World Champion & Hall of Famer Marco Antonio Barrera Confirmed for Eighth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Mexican Independence Day Weekend, Saturday September 13, in Las Vegas
    , Thu, 03 Jul 2025
  • ESPN Original Series The Fight Life Returns for Season Two on July 7
    , Wed, 02 Jul 2025
  • TOP-RATED LIGHTWEIGHT KO ARTIST ARMANDO MARTINEZ RABI RETURNS
    , Wed, 02 Jul 2025
  • Amazing Muay Thai WBC Festival 2025
    , Wed, 02 Jul 2025
  • Borromeo Leads Winners of the Philippine Speedcubing Championships
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 02 Jul 2025
  • What If Pacquiao Defeats Barrios?
    By Ralph Rimpell, , Wed, 02 Jul 2025
  • Team USA Earns Three Wins on Day Two of World Boxing Cup: Astana 2025
    , Wed, 02 Jul 2025
  • Women's Boxing Champion Signs with Combate Global, Still Aims For WBC Absolute Gold
    , Wed, 02 Jul 2025
  • Sanman Boxing Presents Hard-Hitting Prospect Abubakar Yanon Set to Challenge for Philippine Boxing Federation Flyweight Title in Malungon, Sarangani Province
    , Wed, 02 Jul 2025
  • Boxing Returns to Tropicana Atlantic City, July 25
    , Wed, 02 Jul 2025
  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 30 June 2025: Zurdo Outpoints Dorticos, Keeps WBA/WBO Cruiser Titles; Mbilli Stops Sulecki in 1; Wins by Kuroki, Wilder and Jake Paul
    By Eric Armit, , Tue, 01 Jul 2025
  • IIEE Titans secured Finals in BPBL, IIEE Chessmasters retain on top level in Bundesliga
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 01 Jul 2025
  • MARIO BARRIOS LAS VEGAS MEDIA WORKOUT QUOTES
    , Tue, 01 Jul 2025
  • CATTERALL AND EUBANK LAY THEIR 'CARDS ON THE TABLE' AHEAD OF MANCHESTER SHOWDOWN
    , Tue, 01 Jul 2025
  • Dumadag holds chess tourney
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 01 Jul 2025
  • Manny Pacquiao's Case for the Greatest of All Time
    By Ace Freeman, , Mon, 30 Jun 2025
  • DavNor Adventure Race 2025 set July 2
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 30 Jun 2025
  • Gumila rules Antipolo rapid chess tilt
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 30 Jun 2025
  • FULL CIRCLE AT WILD CARD: Jhay Otamias’ Tribute to a Fighter and a Fanbase
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Mon, 30 Jun 2025
  • Vince Paras Wins by 4th Round KO Over Sarawut Thawornkham to Capture the IBF Pan Pacific Super Flyweight Title
    , Mon, 30 Jun 2025
  • Team USA's Quest for Gold Set in Stone at World Boxing Cup: Astana 2025
    , Mon, 30 Jun 2025
  • SBA SEASON 2 DRAFT UNVEILS RISING STARS AND STRATEGIC MOVES AS TEAMS COMPLETE THEIR ROSTERS
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 30 Jun 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.