On Saturday night, CMB featherweight champion Mark Magsayo will try to prove that his reign of title is no coincidence when he fights Rey Vargas. The action goes down from the Alamodome in San Antonio (9pm ET, Showtime).
Magsayo (24-0, 16 KOs) won his title in January, making a majority decision against Gary Russell Jr. Russell entered the fight indicating he was dealing with a right shoulder injury. This was shown a lot throughout the fight, as Russell basically fought with one hand. Still, the fight was close, as Magsayo repeatedly moved to Russell’s left, allowing Russell to use the hand he actually had available as a weapon.
In the end, Magsayo was able to do enough to overcome the decision, remain undefeated, and end Russell’s nearly seven-year title reign, a reign that was extended by Russell defending his title only six times during that time. tram.
“This is very special to me. I saw Manny Pacquiao fight Marco Antonio Barrera in San Antonio at the Alamodome and that was the day I decided to start training in the gym. I am very grateful to have this fight, which is a dream come true: it happens here in San Antonio, “Magsayo told the final press conference.
“This is a very important fight for me. I’ve already beaten Russell, but I just want to keep proving myself. We’re both going to be very confident in ourselves and that’s going to make it a big fight.”
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Vargas (35-0, 22 KOs) is the former CMB super-rooster weight champion, having won the title against Gavin McDonnell in February 2017. He would successfully defend the belt five times before a two-year layoff due to various issues with your promotion team. and a broken leg.
Last November, Vargas returned to action, debuting in featherweight and making a dominant decision over Leonardo Baez. He was then classified as a mandatory Magsayo challenger.
“If you want to exchange blows, I’m more than happy to do it. I see it as a compliment that a lot of people have added to your team. He’s taking me seriously, but I think it’s an advantage for me, because I feel he’s worried.” , said Vargas.
“We definitely have great coaches on every corner. Freddie is a great coach and I’ve had the pleasure of sharing the ring against him before. In the end, we’ll just be Mark and I in the ring. We’re ready. To do a show.”
The lineup includes the return of former super bantamweight champion Brandon Figueroa when he faces Carlos Castro. Figueroa, 25, has not fought since losing a majority decision to Stephen Fulton in November to unify WBC and OMB titles. It was the first loss of his flourishing career. Castro is going through a tough test, also coming off the first defeat of his career when he lost a split decision to Luis Nery in February.
“My last defeat taught me a lot and I will come back with everything I have. I have done an excellent training camp and I am very excited to come back and prove, as I did with 122 pounds, that I belong. division and that I am among the best, “Figueroa said. “I learned to be a little more patient from my last fight. I learned that I have to take advantage of my height and my technical skill.”
Magsayo Vs. Vargas card, probabilities
Odds via Caesars Sportsbook
King Vargas -125
Mark Magsayo (c) +105
WBC featherweight title
Brandon Figueroa -700
Carlos Castro +500
Super cock weight
Frank Martin -1200
Jackson Marinez +750
Light
Prediction
Magsayo is not a hard fighter to figure out. He steps forward and tries to get into a fight. He has solid power, as shown when he brutally knocked out Julio Ceja to set his shot at the title, but getting within reach to land consistently will be a problem against a fighter with rank like Vargas. The Mexican is the best fighter on a technical level and his ability to use his range while picking many decent opponents has been impressive.
The odds facing the fight are much closer than you expected, given the stylistic match and some of the problems Magsayo has had in his career, including the title win over Russell, with one arm. It seems like the kind of struggle in which Vargas is able to dictate reach and pace and make his way to victory by decision and a title in a second weight class. Selection: Rey Vargas via UD