ANOTHER Filipino warrior will be seeing action in the Manny Pacquiao-Mario Barrios fight card on July 19 as former world champion Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo battles Mexican Jorge Mata Cuellar in the undercard at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The 10-round fight promoted by the Premier Boxing Champion (PBC) will be for the vacant World Boxing Council (WBC) continental American super featherweight title.
After the announcement of Tokyo Olympics’ bronze winner Eumir Felix Marcial fighting American Alexis Gaytan as an eight-round none-title middleweight bout in the same fight card, Manny Pacquiao (MP) Promotions formally confirmed the inclusion of Magsayo in the boxing event.
“It’s a very great opportunity to fight for the second time as a part of undercard bouts of my childhood hero Manny Pacquiao, who is the main reason why I started boxing,” Magsayo, 29, said after learning the news from MP Promotions’ president Sean Gibbons.
“Like the first time I fought under his card when I was in the featherweight class, this is also another stepping stone to my second division super featherweight world title bid,” Magsayo added. “I’m grateful for the opportunity from big brother Manny.”
The first time Magsayo fought as an undercard to Pacquiao was when he knocked out Mexican Julio Ceja in the 10th round on August 21, also in Las Vegas. It was Pacquiao’s last fight in the US against Cuban Yordenis Ugas.
After that, he beat Gary Russell Jr. for the WBC featherweight belt last January 22, 2022, in Atlantic City to become a world champion for the first time.
“I would like to thank Sir Manny Pacquiao, also Sean Gibbons who takes care of my career and made me a world champion, WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman, Alan Haymon of PBC, TGB Promotions’ Tom Brown and Louie Decubas of PBC,” said Magsayo
He is coming with a three-fight win streak, including his last against Ecuadorian Bryan Mercado, whom he knocked out in the second round in Long Beach, California last December 14, improving his win-loss record to 27-2 with 18 knockouts.
“I am happy training alongside my idol, seeing him every day still inspires me the way it did when I was a kid. He spends time with us, his boxers and teaches us. I am very excited to fight and hope to see everyone in town for this thrilling Philippines vs. Mexico showdown,” he added.
Cuellar, at 24, however, will absolutely be a threat to Magsayo’s bid. He has 21-2-2 record with 13 knockouts.
“I want to thank Manny [Pacquiao] and Al Haymon for putting Mark on this historic night of boxing when Pacquiao attempts to become the oldest welterweight champion. With a win over Jorge Mata, Mark will be next in line for a WBC world title shot,” Gibbons said.
Pacquiao, who will be fighting reigning WBC welterweight champion Barrios, said he is incredibly happy to help the likes of Magsayo and Marcial, former world champion Jerwin Ancajas, and other Filipino fighters achieve their dreams of becoming world champions.
“Thrilled to be able to help my fellow Filipinos reach their world-title dreams. I had no promotions and management like MP Promotions before when I started. So, I am incredibly happy to guide and help them in their pro boxing careers,” the 46-year-old Hall of Famer said.
