Magsayo victory vs vargas ticket to big time fights

AVICTORY by Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo over Mexico’s Rey Vargas on July 9 in Texas will open doors for the reigning Filipino World Boxing Council (WBC) featherweight to big time fights.

International matchmaker Sean Gibbons, also the president of Manny Pacquiao’s MP Promotions, told Businessmirror on Monday that a win by Magsayo willline him up against World Boxing Association (WBA) featherweight titlist Leo Santa Cruz, a Mexican like Vargas.

“Magsayo is definitely the hepe [boss] right now in Philippine boxing. If he beats Vargas, he will be facing Leo Santa Cruz in LA [Los Angeles] Staples Center,” Gibbons said.

Magsayo, a 27-year-old pride of Tagbilaran City, is making his first defense of the belt against Vargas at the Alamodome in San Antonio.

Magsayo (24-0 win-loss record with 16 knockouts) dethroned American Gary Russel Jr. last January 22 in Atlantic City. He booked three impressive wins in the US before that— knockout victories over American Pablo Cruz and Mexican Julio Ceja.

Mags a yo is one of only two remaining filipino world boxing champion besides International Boxing Federation minimumweight champion Rene Mark Cuarto, who’s staking his belt against Mexican Daniel Balladares in his hometown on Friday. Vargas, undefeated in 35 fights with 22 knockouts, expressed his desire to snatch Magsayo’s belt.

“This is going to be an exciting combat from start to finish. We know that he has great power, but we’ll be ready to counter that, and anything else he brings to the ring,”vargas, of Otumba, Mexico, told boxingscene.com recently.“this is going to be a magnificent fight and I can’t wait to step in there and compete.”