Mark Magsayo moves on from Michael Magnesi, will campaign at 135

Some light has been shed on how Michael Magnesi mysteriously occupied the ranking held by his previously scheduled opponent.

BoxingScene has confirmed that Mark Magsayo has moved on from his oft-postponed WBC 130lbs title eliminator versus the Italian contender Magnesi. The matchup was in the works for months and tabbed for two different shows – including the “Thrilla in Manila” 50th anniversary card in Magsayo’s native Philippines last October.

However, Magsayo, 28-2 (18 KOs) – a former WBC 126lbs titleholder – has instead opted to campaign in the 135lbs division. 

WBC officials confirmed that the bout is no longer in play.

It is unclear as this story goes to publication whether Italy’s Magnesi, 25-2 (13 KOs), will be ordered to enter another title eliminator or if he will be named mandatory challenger. 

The current WBC 130lbs titlist is O’Shaquie Foster, 24-3 (12 KOs). However, the two-time titleholder also has a free pass from the WBC to challenge for its lightweight title at any time, a condition from his agreeing to relinquish the interim belt at the weight shortly after his December 6 victory over Stephen Fulton in San Antonio.

The latter details are relevant given recent circumstances. Shakur Stevenson was unceremoniously stripped of the WBC 135lbs belt, a ruling that was made just three days after Stevenson dominated Teofimo Lopez Jnr to lift the lineal, Ring and WBO 140lbs titles in New York City.

Jadier Herrera is the current WBC interim 135lbs titlist but will have to fight for the vacant title in lieu of an automatic promotion. Foster could choose to challenge Herrera for the vacant belt or remain at 130lbs, where he is likely to be ordered to next face Magnesi.

Magsayo-Magnesi was ordered last year but never found a home. As mentioned, one plan called for the fight to land on October 29 in Manila, a move that made sense given that Manny Pacquiao’s MP Promotions – Magsayo’s promoter – presented the event. However, those rumors were quickly dismissed and the matchup itself was stuck in limbo.

There were talks of placing the fight on the undercard of the February 21 Mario Barrios-Ryan Garcia card in Las Vegas. However, Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) lost control of the event when it was instead picked up by Turki Alalshikh as part of Ring Magazine’s ongoing series. 

The development only added to a disappointing run for Magsayo, who hoped for more than a year to move within one fight of challenging for his second divisional crown.

Magsayo, 30, was previously due to face former title challenger Eduardo “Rocky” Hernandez in a final eliminator last summer. The bout was canceled when WBC officials raised a red flag over Hernandez’s medicals, specifically an eye exam that also forced the cancellation of a recent homecoming bout in Mexico City.

Magsayo wound up facing Jorge Mata, whom he defeated via unanimous decision last July 19 on the undercard of Barrios’ draw with a returning Pacquiao at MGM Grand in Las Vegas. The win was the fourth in a row for Magsayo since he suffered back-to-back defeats to Rey Vargas and Brandon Figueroa.

The defeat to Vargas ended Magsayo’s brief stay as WBC 126lbs titlist after just more than five months.

Earlier this month, Magsayo was supplanted by Magnesi as the WBC 130lbs No. 1 contender. The decision seemed arbitrary given that the 31-year-old from Lazio, Italy, hadn’t fought since a March 28 decision victory over Khalil El Hadri. It was Magnesi’s second win in a row, both of which followed an 11th-round knockout at the hands of Masanori Rikishi in March 2024. 

One spot below Magnesi in the WBC 130lbs rankings is former WBA 126lbs titleholder Raymond Ford, 18-1-1 (8 KOs). 

As for Magsayo, further details about his next fight are not yet confirmed. 

However, he recently revealed while in attendance at the “Night of Champions VII” event in Long Beach, California, that he plans to return to the ring in April. Magsayo cited undisclosed issues that prevented him from further clarifying details, other than to describe the forthcoming news as “the next chapter in my career.”

Jake Donovan is an award-winning journalist who served as a senior writer for BoxingScene from 2007-2024, and news editor for the final nine years of his first tour. He was also the lead writer for The Ring before his decision to return home. Follow Jake on X and Instagram.