WHEN Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo leaves today for the United States to resume training, the newly-crowned World Boxing Council featherweight king’s lofty goal is to return to the country once he has unified all the belts in the highly-competitive weight division.
“Hindi kami uuwi muli hanggang hindi maging unified world champion. Mabigat pero kailangan nating paghirapan at pagsikapan para makuha sa tulong at tiwala natin sa Panginoon,” Magsayo said yesterday during the Philippine Sportswriters Association online forum.
MP Promotions chief and veteran American promoter Sean Gibbons, who joined the boxer in the same forum, said this was the trajectory of the pride of Tagbilaran, Bohol, in his quest for ring glory.
“Mark beat Gary Russell, who was the best featherweight in the world. Bottom line, Mark roughed him up, beat him up and took the man’s title so I just see this as another step where we want to keep working and hopefully unifying the belts also,” Gibbons said.
Magsayo became the country’s latest world champion after pounding out a majority decision win over the longtime erstwhile reigning champ Russell, who fought with an injured right shoulder, last Jan. 22 at the Borgata Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
The victory set the Pinoy prizefighter up for a mandatory title defense against lanky Mexican slugger Rey Vargas in a battle of undefeated boxers on July 9 (July 10 in Manila) at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.
“Rey Vargas was the earlier mandatory challenger against Russell, but he got hurt so we got the opportunity to fight Gary. It was already pre-determined that Rey would be our next opponent,” Gibbons said.
“But we’re fine with it because when you’re the champ you accept whatever you’re offered,” added the MP Promotions chief in the program backed by San Miguel Corp., Philippine Olympic Committee, Philippine Amusements and Gaming Corp., Amelie Hotel, Milo, and Unilever.
At 5-foot-6, Magsayo, 26, has an unblemished slate of 24 wins, spiked by 16 knockouts, while the 5-foot-10 Vargas, 31, is undefeated in 35 fights, 22 of wins coming by knockout.
“Magaling din si Vargas. Napanood ko ‘yong mga laban niya. Magandang match-up para sa akin,” noted the Pinoy champ, who will resume training next month at the Wild Card gym under the aegis of famed American ring guru Freddie Roach.
Gibbons is confident that Magsayo would be impressive in his first title defense, saying: “I see it going very well for Mark and see it going very bad for Rey Vargas. With Magsayo’s hand and foot speed and power, I see Vargas going night, night in the 10th round. I see this (fight) as another coming out party for Magsayo.”
