The next time Mark Magsayo returns from the United States, he would love to see himself carrying the World Boxing Council (WBC) strap but also holding the other belts from the three major sanctioning bodies.
“I am not going home unless I am the unified champion,” Magsayo said during Tuesday’s online Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum.
“I know it’s going to be hard but I have to work hard to do that,” the unbeaten Magsayo said.
The Bohol-born bomber usually sets the bar high.
When he left the Philippines with his wife Frances during the height of the pandemic, he vowed not to go back without a world title.
Last January, Magsayo upset Gary Russell Jr. to bag the WBC 126-lb crown.
The road to his next mission starts soon.
Magsayo is set to head to Los Angeles Wednesday to jumpstart his training camp for the 9 July mandatory defense against Mexican Rey Vargas at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.
The other champions are Leo Santa Cruz and Leigh Wood (World Boxing Association), Emanuel Navarrete (World Boxing Organization) and Kiko Martinez (International Boxing Federation).
Sean Gibbons, whose MP Promotions runs Magsayo’s affairs, is upbeat the Filipino puncher will take care of Vargas and then lure Santa Cruz to a two-belt showdown in Los Angeles towards the end of 2022.
“I see this fight (with Vargas) going good for Mark and going bad for Rey,” Gibbons said.
“This will be another coming-out party for Mark but Mark worked so hard to win the title for Vargas to just take it all away.”
Magsayo blew into town only on 3 March but spent most of his time with loved ones in Bohol and admitted that the vacation was short.
“Next time, I hope it will be longer so I can enjoy it even more,” he said.
That would certainly be a blast most especially if Magsayo will be showing off four belts.
