| |
|
Magsayo aims to cut down Vargas
By Joaquin Henson
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 05 Jul 2022
WBC featherweight champion Mark Magsayo is the only Filipino world titlist standing and he’s determined to turn back Mexican challenger Rey Vargas at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, on Saturday night (Sunday morning, Manila time) to keep the flag flying. Magsayo and his team will leave Los Angeles today for San Antonio where Manny Pacquiao stopped Marco Antonio Barrera in 2003 and Jorge Solis in 2007. The Alamodome was the San Antonio Spurs’ home in the NBA before transferring to the AT&T Center in 2002.
It won’t only be a battle between fighters but also between Hall of Fame trainers. Magsayo is coached by Freddie Roach and Vargas by Nacho Beristain. Joining Roach in Magsayo’s corner will be assistant coach Marvin Somodio, cutman Mike Rodriguez and MP Promotions head Sean Gibbons’ son Brendan. Also in Magsayo’s team are his wife Frances, nutritionist Jeaneth Aro and strength/conditioning coach Pedro Garcia.
“Mark’s the new face of Philippine boxing,” said Gibbons. “I don’t consider Vargas a puncher and he’ll try to outbox Mark but Mark will cut him down. It’ll be a late knockout win for Mark, maybe in the 10th round. His work in the gym has been amazing. He’s stronger, his defense is tighter, his footwork is shiftier and his combinations are quicker.” Somodio said Magsayo has the tools to stop Vargas. “Sa tingin ko, kayang i-knockout ni Mark si Vargas pero focus kami kung paano manalo,” he said. “Malakas din si Vargas pero mas malakas si Mark. Mas mature na si Mark, maganda kondisyon sa tulong ni Jeaneth at Pedro.”
Magsayo, 27, wrested the WBC diadem from Gary Russell on a majority 12-round decision in Atlantic City last January. The win raised his record to 24-0 with 16 KOs. Vargas, 31, was the WBC superbantamweight champion and after five successful defenses, relinquished the throne to move up to featherweight. Vargas broke a leg during a training run and was inactive for over two years, prompting the WBC to declare him a champion-in-recess. Then he decided to invade the 126-pound division.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Joaquin Henson.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 3 MARCH 2026: Navarrete Stops Nunez; Parra Jnr Outpoints Pierce; Wins by Emiliano Vargas and Abel Ramos
By Eric Armit, , Wed, 04 Mar 2026Team Philippines Crowned Champions of the 2026 Predator WPA Teams World Championship
, Wed, 04 Mar 2026IBA President Umar Kremlev calls for radical reform of the Olympic Movement and equal rights for athletes
, Wed, 04 Mar 2026Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaiman: Boxing—A Spectacle of Masses and Millennial Stages
By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Tue, 03 Mar 2026Golden Boy Promotions Vs Virgil Ortiz Jr going to arbitration?
By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 03 Mar 2026Boxlab Promotions Signs Undefeated Nicaraguan Knockout Artist Jordan “La Cobrita” Orozco
, Tue, 03 Mar 2026STACKED MARCH 14 UNDERCARD SHOWCASES GOLDEN BOY’S NEXT GENERATION OF CHAMPIONS
, Tue, 03 Mar 2026The Perfect Boxing Prospect 12-0 Marco Romero
, Tue, 03 Mar 2026Quietly formidable boxers Kristian Prenga & Pyrce Taylor continue Their assault on the heavyweight division
, Tue, 03 Mar 2026“Prince” Albert Pagara Flies to Perth for WBC Australasia Title Fight
By Carlos Costa, , Mon, 02 Mar 2026Ryan Daye vows a dominant standout performance in WBC title Clash March 13 in Perth Thunderdome 53
, Mon, 02 Mar 2026Moncal, Mag-aso rule Legacy Run
By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 02 Mar 2026Lavant Brownlee Earns Gold, Lorenzo Patricio Earns Silver at Strandja 2026 Boxing Tournament
, Mon, 02 Mar 2026Influencer Brooklyn Barwick Disputes hometown decision for NBA Americas Featherweight title
, Mon, 02 Mar 2026HALL OF FAMER WINKY WRIGHT TO PARTICIPATE IN 2026 HALL OF FAME INDUCTION WEEKEND FESTIVITIES
, Mon, 02 Mar 2026Reyes Siblings New Champions in US chess tourney
, Mon, 02 Mar 2026Lorenzo Parra Delivers Stunning Second-Round Knockout at Sold-Out Manny Pacquiao Promotions Event at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, N.Y.
, Sun, 01 Mar 2026Almacen Bros Score Knockout Wins in Exciting Brico Santig Show in Thailand Live on TrillerTV
By Carlos Costa, , Sun, 01 Mar 2026Lorenzo Patricio and Lavant Brownlee Advance to Gold Medal Round in Bulgaria
, Sun, 01 Mar 2026HALL OF FAMER TIMOTHY BRADLEY JR. TO RETURN TO CANASTOTA FOR 2026 HALL OF FAME INDUCTION WEEKEND
, Sun, 01 Mar 2026Paras stops Abcede in 2nd round
By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 01 Mar 2026Undefeated Welterweight Ruben Aguilar Stops Luis Lopez in Eight Brutal Rounds in Main Event of ProBoxTV’s ‘The Contender Series’ at University of Texas in Arlington
, Sun, 01 Mar 2026Patricio, Brownlee and Awinongya Enter Medal Rounds on Day Five of Strandja 2026 Boxing Tournament
, Sun, 01 Mar 2026Matthew James Sugatan wins Flash-ADV 160 9-Ball Tournament at Pacman's Cue Club; pockets P30,000
By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 01 Mar 2026IM Arca finishes in eight place in Pacquiao chess; NM Ilar pockets P100,000
By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 01 Mar 2026 |
|
|
|
|
|
