Unbeaten Filipino featherweight Mark Magsayo, whose violent knockout victory provided the shining moment on the night Manny Pacquiao’s star flickered, is back at the Wild Card Boxing Club.
Already assured of a shot at the World Boxing Council (WBC) 126-lb crown in January 2022, Magsayo has commenced his pre-conditioning training, according to MP Promotions (MPP) chief Sean Gibbons.
A few weeks ago, the Mexico City-based WBC ordered defending champion Gary Russell, 33, to face Magsayo, 26, in a high-risk mandatory defense.
Magsayo is coming off a devastating tenth-round knockout of Mexican Julio Ceja in the undercard of Pacquiao’s failed title challenge against Yordenis Ugas of Cuba at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Following the emphatic win, Magsayo shied away from boxing and attended to some personal needs, including his transfer to a newer apartment with wife Frances Arbie.
Magsayo, who relocated to Los Angeles from the Philippines in June last year, has a 23-0 record with 16 knockouts.
The southpaw Russell, who had an accomplished amateur career, packs a 31-1 mark with 18 knockouts. His lone loss was to Vasyl Lomachenko, a testament to Russell’s caliber and class.
These days, Magsayo is joined at the Wild Card by several Filipino fighters aligned with MPP, including world champion Jerwin Ancajas, ex-world champion Marlon Tapales and Jonas Sultan.
