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MASAM SPORTS 52: MARK MAGSAYO VS. REY VARGAS TITLE FIGHT, THE BATTLE OF UNDEFEATED FIGHTERS ON JULY 9 By Maloney L. Samaco PhilBoxing.com Mon, 21 Mar 2022  Filipino and Mexican boxing fans are setting their eyes 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 as announced by Premier Boxing Championships (PBC) to happen on July 9, 2022 in San Antonio, Texas. One of great interest in the Magsayo versus Vargas world championship bout is that both fighters are undefeated with very high knockout rates on their professional career records. The 26-year old Magsayo, the pride of Tagbilaran, Bohol grabbed 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 just 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 along 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. “Having such a long (layoff due to) injury, then Covid, thank God I’m back,” Vargas was quoted by Boxing Scene. “I can’t ask for anything more. Going straight for the title (versus Magsayo) makes me feel very, very happy.” Vargas reigned as WBC junior featherweight titlist. He was scheduled to fight in his featherweight debut in March 2020, but was aborted due to the pandemic. His absence was prolonged when he suffered a leg injury which made him unable to fight in 2020 and ten months in 2021. The challenger from Otumba, Mexico is trained by the legendary Ignacio "Nacho" Beristain. “Mark Magsayo is a bigger fighter (than Russell), but he’s smarter more so than just (relying on) power,” said Vargas. “Magsayo is very smart in the ring.” The WBC No. 1 contender Vargas is taller at 5-10 1/2 in (179 cm) with a reach of 70 1/2 inches, than Magsayo who is 5-8 (169 cm) with a reach of 67 1⁄2 in (171 cm). Magsayo's manager Sean Gibbons said having Vargas as the next foe would be similar to fighting fellow Mexican Emanuel Navarrete with a record of 36-0 with 29 KOs. Either of the two would be a tough opponent for Magsayo. On February 25, 2017, Vargas fought Englishman Gavin McDonnell for the vacant WBC super bantamweight title which took place in Hull, England. Vargas won a majority decision 117-111, 116–112, 114-114 to become a world champion. Vargas' last stoppage victory was a fifth round TKO of Venezuela's Alexander Muñoz on September 3, 2016 in Mexico to win the vacant WBC international silver super bantamweight title. That was before winning the world title from McDonnell. Vargas will be gunning for his second world title and added that the title shot comes to him at an excellent time, during this period of his life which has greater maturity. His goal is to be a new world champion again. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.  |
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