By CARLO ANOLIN
Mark Magsayo hopes to keep the country’s remaining world crown when he stakes his World Boxing Council (WBC) featherweight title against Mexican foe Rey Vargas on Saturday (Sunday PH time) at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.
Magsayo, 27, is defending his title for the first time since wresting it from Gary Russell Jr. last January 2022 via majority decision.
And he’s the only remaining Filipino champion after three others – Jerwin Ancajas, Nonito Donaire, Jr. and Mark Cuarto were dethroned. The other one – Johnriel Casimero – was stripped of his title.
Both Magsayo and Vargas made the cut after tipping the scales at 125.5 lbs.
Per BetMGM, the Filipino champion is listed as a +100 underdog while Vargas got -115 as a favorite.
After all, the two featherweight stars have made their respective names in the division by being undefeated.
Magsayo, the protege of eight-division world boxing champion and Filipino legend Manny Pacquiao, was the first to attain the top status by dethroning Russell Jr.
Prior to that, the 27-year-old Tagbilaran, Bohol native boxer shocked the boxing world with his stunning 10th round knockout against Julio Ceja of Mexico last August 2021.
Magsayo, who remained unbeaten in 24 matches on top of 16 knockouts, earned the Premier Boxing Champion’s (PBC) Knockout of the Year award in the process which also paved the way to his superstardom and earning a title shot.
“It sounds pretty good to me that they are looking at me now. So I’m gonna do my best,” said Magsayo. “I need to win every fight. Because people are watching me, [watching] my back. I’m gonna do my best in every fight.”
Vargas, 31, on the other hand, is also unscathed in 35 matches built on 22 KOs.
