Magsayo seals first world title defense vs Vargas on July 9

Mark Magsayo (left) and Rey Vargas (right). | Facebook photos

CEBU CITY, Philippines — Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo, the reigning World Boxing Council (WBC) world featherweight champion has sealed his first mandatory title defense versus former world champion Rey Vargas of Mexico on July 9, 2022, in San Antonio, Texas.

The Premier Boxing Championships or PBC included Magsayo and Vargas’s world title duel in its scheduled events for the rest of the summer in the United States.

Magsayo and Vargas’s world title bout is one of the most anticipated boxing matches this year as both boxers are unbeaten with a very high knockout percentage on their resume.

The 26-year old Magsayo of Tagbilaran, Bohol wrested the WBC world featherweight title via majority decision versus erstwhile champion Gary Russell Jr. of the United States in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

His victory improved his unblemished record to 24 wins and 16 knockouts. Magsayo has a 67% knockout rate in his resume, but he had a difficult time landing solid punches against Russell Jr. during their 12-round showdown despite the latter injuring his right shoulder.

Magsayo dethroned Russell after two judges scored the bout 115-113 in his favor while the other judge saw it even at 114-114.

Meanwhile, the 31-year old Vargas, the former WBC world super bantamweight champion recently came back from a two-year hiatus by winning against Leonardo Baez in a ten-rounder bout last November in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Vargas clinched his 35th victory along with 22 knockouts. He has a knockout rate of 63% and won his last six bouts from 2017 via unanimous decision.

He was sidelined in 2019 due to a foot injury, forcing him to relinquish his world title.    /rcg

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