Another Filipino warrior will see action in the Manny Pacquiao-Mario Barrios fight card on July 19 as former world champion Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo battles Mexican Jorge Mata Cuellar at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The 10-round fight promoted by the Premier Boxing Champions (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, the 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 development relayed by MP Promotions President Sean Gibbons.
“Like the first time I fought under his card when I was in featherweight class, this is also another steppingstone 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 tenth round on August 21 also in Las Vegas during Pacquiao’s last fight in the US against Cuban Yordenis Ugas.
After that, he got an opportunity for a world title that he won against 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,” he said.
Magsayo is on a roll, winning his last three fights, including against Ecuadorian Bryan Mercado, whom he knocked out in the second round in Long Beach, California last December 14.
That improved his win-loss record to 27-2 with 18 knockouts.
“I am happy training alongside with 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 July 19 and hope to see everyone in town for this thrilling Philippines vs. Mexico showdown.”
Cuellar, 24, is no pushover. He has 21-2-2 record with 13 knockouts.
