Tagbilaran-native Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo, through a bout is getting a chance to become a world champion and prove that he is the heir apparent to boxing legend Manny Pacquiao.
The bout will be held at the Borgata Hotel, Casino and Spa in Atlantic City, New Jersey USA on Saturday (Jan. 22, 2022), or Sunday morning here in Bohol (Jan. 23, 2022).
The Boholano is not leaving anything to chance in his fight against Gary Russell Jr. for the World Boxing Council (WBC) featherweight title.
Magsayo said he is excited to get a chance to win the world title.
He earned an opportunity to meet Russell for the title after the former won in a sensational fashion against Julio Ceja.
Back in August 2021, Magsayo knocked out Ceja in the 10th round as the former was trailing in the scorecards.
The win catapulted the unbeaten Magsayo (23-0, 16 KO) as the mandatory challenger for the WBC featherweight title, currently being held by Russell.
Reports said that Magsayo is doing great, according to the boxer’s nutritionist Jeaneth Aro. Aro is the one who piloted the nutrition needs of Olympic champion Hidelyn Diaz and the Philippine Olympic boxing team to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The boxing team has won 2 silvers and a bronze in the said Olympic competition.
Russell (31-1, 18 KO) is returning to the ring after a 2-year hiatus.
He currently holds the WBC featherweight title after he defeated Jhonny Gonzales back in 2015.
Russell is facing an undefeated Magsayo who has proven the latter can knockout opponents almost at will.
Magsayo believes that he got what it takes to win the crown and he is bringing the lessons he learned during the Ceja fight.