Mark Magsayo Ready To Move Up To Junior Lightweight
Former WBC featherweight champion Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo (24-2, 16KO) is ready to test the waters at junior lightweight. This decision comes off the heels of losing a second straight fight in a row and a chance at revenge to reclaim the WBC featherweight title.
On March 4, Magsayo came up short against Brandon “The Heartbreaker” Figueroa (24-1-1, 18KO) in a title eliminator. A win would have afforded him a chance to rematch WBC champion Rey Vargas.
TROUBLES AT FEATHERWEIGHT
Magnifico has suffered the second straight defeat of his career at 126. He typically finishes strong down the stretch but was unable to do so in the Figueroa fight. It is also worth mentioning that he was 0.8 pounds overweight at the weigh-in. The former champion narrowly made weight within the two-hour time frame. It was obvious in the second half of the fight that the struggle to cut weight significantly affected his stamina.
Believing that his time in the division has finally ended, the former champion took to social media to announce the decision to move up.
Fighting under the watchful eye of Filipino senator Manny Pacquiao as part of MP promotions, his career flourished in the division. On January 2022, Magsayo dethroned then the weight class’ longest-reigning champion in “Mr.” Gary Russell Jr.
The junior lightweight division is loaded with good fights, and it will be interesting to see what opponent Team Magsayo decides to make their debut against. At 27 years old, the Filipino is far from done and moving up would mean not draining himself to cut weight. This could be what is needed to revitalize his career.
