Mark Magsayo vs Rey Vargas world title fight preview
By James Blears
Someone's '0' will have to go when undefeated WBC featherweight champion Mark Magsayo (24-0, 16KOs) defends his title for the first time against unbeaten former WBC super- bantamweight champion Rey Vargas (35-0, 22KOs), on Saturday, July 9th at the Alamodome, in San Antonio, Texas.
A lone victor will emerge from this battle of big puncher against accomplished boxer. Mexico's Rey, aged 31, has gone through a seven fight drought of no stoppage victories, since winning his WBC 122lbs title in Hull's Ice Arena in Yorkshire, back in 2017, when he defeated local lad Gavin McDonnell for the vacant strap.
Rey Geovani Vargas Roldan fractured his left foot and it took almost two years of recovery, recuperation and therapy to step back into the ring, between 2019-2021, this time as a featherweight against Leonardo Baez last November, winning a convincing UD.
Prior to that, just how the gangling Rey, who hails from Otumba, near the Pyramid of the Sun and moon in the State of Mexico, maintained the 122lbs limit, was a slender marvel. He stands a lofty at 5' 10" tall and has a 70" inch reach, compared to the shorter 5' 6" Mark from the Philipinnes, aged 27, who has a lesser 68" reach.
Seasoned genius in their respective corners, with Ignacio “Nacho” Beristain guiding Rey and Freddie Roach the Chief Second of Mark, who was the protégé of Manny Pacquiao.
Mark fought an epic against Julio Ceja in the eliminator to progress to a fight with long-time champion Gary Russell Jr. He decked “Pollito” with a mighty single left hook in round one. But Julio got up, dug deep and fought back to return the favor in round five, dispatching Mark to the canvas for the first time in his pro career with a stunning left hook of his own. Sinking body shots and the bloodying of Mark's nose, convinced him he was in a titanic fight. He appeared to lose the plot, until in round 10, when he backed Julio on to the ropes, landed a straight right through the gloves which wobbled the Mexican and then ruthlessly landing a second even harder right, which knocked him flat out unconscious.
Southpaw master craftsman Gary injured his right shoulder two weeks before the bout with Mark, but decided to go ahead. A tendon tore in the fourth round, presenting a major setback to Gary, who bravely fought on, resourcefully relying on his cultured left. But Mark won a deserved MD and with it the title.
Rey is a superb boxer, who can fight effectively on the front or the back foot. He uses his long ramrod left jab to good effect and unusually for such a tall man, he's fond of softening up opponents with a punishing attack to the body. When he's landed his punches, he moves back and often as not laterally, to avoid incoming flak. He throws a high volume of punches, moves well, has very fast hands and he's difficult to catch cleanly. But he doesn't carry the velocity pep power wallop of Mark, who can and does blast out opponents.
It'll be interesting to gauge whether the extra four pounds will provide Rey with more impactful power. At featherweight, he looks less gaunt and hollow cheeked. Mark is a natural, big featherweight and robustly strong with it. Mark must get inside Rey's reach and attack at close range. He's at his best when he backs opponents up against the ropes and uses that extraordinary power to dispatch them. To win, he must trap and pin the elusive Rey, who will try to remain a highly mobile will of the wisp opponent who won't prove to be an easy or a static target.
Outside the ring, Rey often wears glasses. Inside it he's well focused and laser accurate. Mark might not be able to outbox him, but he possesses that real clout. Rey will never been hit as hard as he's going to be in this fight. It'll test his capacity to defend himself under the severest pressure and his tungsten like determination, because in this fight someone's willpower will have to bend and even break.
As a super bantamweight, Rey has always enjoyed considerable size, height, reach and strength advantages. This will not be so much the case against Mark, who won't be outsized. Rey has been a pro for three years longer than Mark. In the last several years his fights have all gone the distance, so even considering his superb boxing skills, he's picked up and collected more wear and tear.
Arguably Rey's finest performance as WBC super-bantam champion was his second defense, against Oscar Negrete of Colombia, who, up to then, was undefeated in 17 bouts. Rey totally dominated, masterfully winning a wide UD.
Up to now, Mark's finest hour was overcoming adversity to KO former WBC super-bantamweight champion Julio Ceja, demonstrating his prodigious power. The learning curve at this unforgiving championship level for both Mark and Rey will be steep and sharp. Whoever applies, adapts and inflicts will dent the other`s undefeated record, taking it away forever.
In the Columbo episode entitled: “Any Old Port In A Storm”, wine connoisseur Adrian Carsini, who is finally outwitted and caught by the dogged and intrepid detective, in the gendre of Crime and Punishment, written by Fiodor Dostoyevski, praises his adroit ability to immerse himself in the art of perceptive palate, saying: “Lieutenant, you're a good learner”. To which (Frank) Columbo smiles and replies: “That's the nicest thing anyone ever said to me Sir.”
In this upcoming fight the lesson learned will be less a “Pleasence” than a necessity.
Tale of the Tape
MARK MAGSAYO
WBC Champion
Nationality: Philippines
Date of Birth: June 22, 1995
Birthplace: Tagbilaran City, Bohol, Phil.
Residence: Rizal, Manila, Phil.
Alias: Magnifico
Record: 24-0-0, 16KO
Age: 27
Guard: Orthodox
Total rounds: 131
World Titles Fights: 1 (1-0-0)
Trainer: Freddie Roach
Manager: Peter Seva
Promoter: MP Promotions
REY VARGAS
WBC #1
Nationality: Mexico
Date of Birth: November 25, 1990
Birthplace: Otumba, Estado de México
Residence: Otumba, Estado de México
Alias: El Rey
Record: 35-0-0, 22KO
Age: 31
Guard: Orthodox
Total rounds: 210
World Titles Fights: 6 (6-0-0)
Trainer: Ignacio Beristain
Advisor: Al Haymon
Promoter: Premier Boxing Champion
WBC World Featherweight Champion
- DAVEY MOORE (US) + 1963
- ULTIMINIO RAMOS (MEX) + 1963 – 1964
- VICENTE SALDIVAR (MEX) + 1964 – 1967
- HOWARD WINSTONE (GALES) + 1968
- JOSE LEGRA (CUBA) 1968 – 1969
- JOHNNY FAMECHON (FRAN) 1969 – 1970
- VICENTE SALDIVAR (MEX) * + 1970
- KUNIAKI SHIBATA (JAPAN) 1970 – 1972
- CLEMENTE SANCHEZ (MEX) + 1972
- JOSE LEGRA (CUBA) * 1972 – 1973
- EDER JOFRE (BRA) 1973
- BOBBY CHACON (US) 1974 – 1975
- RUBEN OLIVARES (MEX) 1975
- DAVID KOTEY (GHANA) 1975 – 1976
- DANNY LOPEZ (US) 1976 – 1980
- SALVADOR SANCHEZ (MEX) + 1980 – 1982
- JUAN LAPORTE (P. RICO) 1982 – 1984
- WILFREDO GOMEZ (P. RICO) 1984
- AZUMAH NELSON (GHANA) 1984 – 1987
- JEFF FENECH (AUST) 1988 – 1990
- MARCOS VILLASANA (MEX) 1990 – 1991
- PAUL HODKINSON (GB) 1991 – 1993
- GOYO VARGAS (MEX) 1993
- KEVIN KELLEY (US) 1993 – 1995
- ALEJANDRO GONZALEZ (MEX) 1995
- MANUEL MEDINA (MEX) 1995
- LUISITO ESPINOSA (PHIL) 1995 – 1999
- CESAR SOTO (MEX) 1999
- NASEEM HAMED (GB) 1999
- GUTY ESPADAS (MEX) 200 – 2001
- ERIK MORALES (MEX) 2001 – 2002
- MARCO A. BARRERA (MEX) 2002
- ERIK MORALES (MEX) * 2002 – 2003
- INJIN CHI (KOREA) 2004 – 2006
- TAKASHI KOSHIMOTO (JAPAN) 2006
- HUMBERTO SOTO (MEX) Interim 2005 – 2006
- RODOLFO LOPEZ (MEX) 2006
- INJIN CHI (KOREA) * 2006
- JORGE LINARES (VEN) 2007
- OSCAR LARIOS (MEX) 2008 – 2009
- TAHAKAHIRO AOH (JAP) 2009
- ELIO ROJAS (DOM. R.) 2009 – 2010
- HOZUMI HASEGAWA (JAP) 2010-2011
- JHONNY GONZALEZ (MEX) 2011-2012
- DANIEL PONCE DE LEON (MEX) 2012-2013
- ABNER MARES (MEXICO) 2013
- JHONNY GONZALEZ (MEXICO) * 2013–2015
- OSCAR ESCANDON (COL) Interim 2016 – 2017
- GARY RUSSELL (US) 2015 – 2022
- MARK MAGSAYO (PHIL) 2022 –
*Regained
WBC's Top 10 Featherweight Champions
1 SALVADOR SANCHEZ (MEXICO)
2 AZUMAH NELSON (GHANA)
3 ERIK MORALES (MEXICO)
4 MARCO ANTONIO BARRERA (MEXICO)
5 VICENTE SALDIVAR (MEXICO)
6 ULTIMINIO RAMOS (MEXICO/CUBA)
7 DAVEY MOORE (US)
8 DANNY LOPEZ (US)
9 JEFF FENECH (AUSTRALIA)
10 MARCOS VILLASANA (MEXICO)
WBC Featherweight Stats
44 World champions recognised by the WBC of which only 5 have regained their title: Vicente Saldivar / Jose Legra / Erik Morales / Injin Chi / Jhonny Gonzalez
141 World championship contests in 15 different countries have been held in the 59-year history of the WBC
65 World featherweight title fights have been held in the Unites States
76 WBC World title fights have been held in Texas, of which 24 were in the city of San Antonio
13 WBC World featherweight title fights have taken place in Texas
59 WBC World title fights between Mexico vs Philippines: Mexico 36 – Philippines 21 – 1 draw.
