Magsayo needs to wait awhile for title fight
MARK “MAGNIFICO” MAGSAYO needs one or two fights to be able to contend anew for a world boxing title.
Magsayo lost his World Boxing Council (WBC) featherweight belt via split decision to Mexican Rey Vargas last July 7 in San Antonio, Texas. It was his first setback in 25 fights.
“That was a mandatory fight and there’s nothing we could do about it so we have no choice,” said international matchmaker Sean Gibbons, also president of Manny Pacquiao’s MP Promotions, told Businessmirror on Monday via Internet call. “We’ve been with the bad and close decisions before. We’re disappointed, but that’s how it was.”
The 5-foot-11 Vargas, undefeated in 36 fights with 22 knockouts, gets a chance for a unification bout with World Boxing Association (WBA) featherweight champion Leo Santa Cruz of Mexico within the year.
The winner of the upcoming unification bout, according to Gibbons, could face the 27-year-old Magsayo by next year especially if the pride of Tagbilaran City wins his next two or three fights—the first set later this year and the second, a world title eliminator, next year.
“After two or three more fights, I believe Mark Magsayo will get back to win another world title again,” Gibbons said. “I’m really confident he can regain the title because Mark [Magsayo] is really a hardworking fighter.”
Magsayo, under the tutelage of Hall of Famer trainer Freddie Roach, dethroned Gary Russell Jr. last January 22 via majority decision in Atlantic City, but couldn’t get the job done in his first title defense.
“It’s not the end of the road for Mark,” Gibbons said. “He’ll get back stronger than ever.”