Mark Magsayo works toward another world title shot

Saturday, June 15, from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada, former world featherweight champ Mark Magsayo will return to the ring for a bout that he hopes will lead to another trip to the plate for a world title shot.

He’ll be fighting in one of the chief support bouts to the main event featuring Tank Davis against Frank Martin. 

Magsayo, 25-2 (17 KO’s), Tagbilaran City, Philippines-born, Valencia, California-residing, will battle rugged Eduardo Ramirez of Mexico (28-3-3, 13 KO’s).

Magsayo turned pro in 2016 and went a perfect and impressive 23-0. He worked himself to a world title shot against Gary Allen Russell in 2022 and earned an MD 12 to capture the WBC world featherweight title.  

This was an impressive win for Magsayo as he was facing a fighter who had only lost to superstar champion Vasyl Lomachenko and was making his 6th title defense. 

In Magsayo’s 1st title defense, 6 months later, he lost a razor-thin SD to former, long-reigning super bantamweight champion Rey Vargas. 

Then, 8 months later, in March of 2023, he received another title shot against Brandon Figueroa but came up short in a decision loss.

However, he closed out the year with an impressive KO 3 over Mexico’s tough Isaac Avelar. Now, he hopes another win will put him in the right place for a title shot.

Sean Gibbons, who handles Magsayo, likes what he sees in the gym and says he feels he could be in a good spot for a WBA title fight with a nice win in Vegas.

“Mark is in great shape and looking very good in the gym”, said industry legend Gibbons. “He’s looking to impress on this card and then we’ll look at getting him a shot at the WBA world title”.

Magsayo is getting into championship shape under conditioning coach Pedro Garcia, who works out of Freddie Roach’s famed Wild Card Gym in Hollywood, California. Garcia added that he is also very pleased with what he sees from Magsayo.

“He is looking great”, said Garcia. “The move up to 130 pounds has been really good for his body”.  

  “He was a world champion before, and he will be again”, added Gibbons.