WBC featherweight title: Gary Russell Jr. vs. Mark Magsayo Jan.22

We’re coming to New Jersey to get that belt. Mark Magsayo is going to leave New Jersey with that title. New Jersey. New Champ” - Sean Gibbons (Manny Pacquiao Promotions). 

Long reigning, featherweight champion, Gary Russell Jr., will defend his WBC featherweight belt against mandatory challenger Mark Magsayo from the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City, N.J. on Saturday, January 22.

The Showtime Championship Boxing card also sees a 12-round rematch between super lightweight contenders Subriel Matías and Petros Ananyan in the co-main event, along with featherweights Tugstsogt Nyambayar and Vic Pasillas going 10-rounds in the night’s opening fight. 

Capitol Heights, MD, native Russell (31-1,18 KO’s), has held the WBC strap for 7 years after winning the belt in 2015. Russell has been near perfect in 32 fights with his only blemish being a 12-round MD loss to Vasyl Lomachenko back in 2014 in a shot at Loma’s WBO featherweight belt. Then, 2 fights later, Russell became a world champion when he beat Mexican star Jhonny Gonzalez to capture his WBC title.

With 5 successful title defences in the bank, Russell Jr. has reason to be confident. However, in a recent interview, he made it clear he isn’t looking past the undefeated Magsayo.

“I’m ready and I’ve been waiting to display my talents and get back in the ring,” said Russell. “I know that I’m facing a guy who’s willing to put it all on the line, with everything to gain and nothing to lose.”

Filipino star Magsayo (23-0,16 KO’s), who is managed by his wife Frances, fights out Manila, but is currently training in California with legend Freddie Roach. As he approaches the biggest fight of his life, he certainly does have something to gain - the world title. And, it is something that the 26 year old banger certainly plans to acquire on his trip to “The Garden State”. Magsayo, like Filipino legend Manny Pacquiao, who promotes him, will also find his greatest honour in winning the title for his Philippine countrymen. 

“I am very grateful for this opportunity to fight for the WBC world title,” said Magsayo. “This is the fight that I want and have been working hard to get for years. I am going to come to win and to make the most of this chance”, he said. “This is going to be a great fight for me to show the world what Filipinos are made of. I’ve had a long road to get to this position and I will be fighting in honor of everyone who helped me get here.”

Brendan Gibbons, sparring co-ordinator, who has been with Magsayo throughout camp, has seen some great rounds of sparring and feels Magsayo is more than ready to beat the long-reigning champion.

“Mark has looked sensational in the ring, very sharp in sparring”, he said. “This is the biggest fight of his life, and he is going to go into Jersey and come out with that belt”.

Sean Gibbons, the man behind Manny Pacquiao Promotions, who promotes Magsayo, knows what a great opportunity this is for his undefeated featherweight, and he knows Magsayo is looking to make the most of his opportunity.

“Mark is in great shape, and he is coming for that belt; no doubt. He is ready to go, working under the best trainer, Freddie Roach, and he’s gonna win that title for his Filipino people”, said Gibbons. “Mark Magsayo is going to leave New Jersey with that title”, he said. “New Jersey. New champ”.