LOS ANGELES – Just under a month away from fight night, Mark Magsayo is walking around at about 143lbs, 13lbs over the limit for his new weight division, junior lightweight. Typically, when he was fighting as a featherweight, Magsayo wouldn’t get to this weight until about two weeks before the bout, meaning he would be in for a rough time getting down to the weight.
While there had always been glimpses of his explosive power and speed, the difficult part had been sustaining that pace over the course of a long fight. Now, fighting in a more appropriate weight class while training closer to his fighting weight, Magsayo says he’s feeling more energized heading into his July 19 bout against Jorge Mata Cuellar on the undercard of Mario Barrios-Manny Pacquiao at MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
“It’s a big difference since I moved up because I feel stronger, faster and more relaxed when I fight at 130,” said Magsayo, 27-2 (18 KOs). The former WBC featherweight titleholder spoke to BoxingScene after eight rounds of sparring Saturday at Wild Card Boxing in Los Angeles against two different opponents, including unbeaten pro Brandon McCarthy and a younger amateur.
“It’s easy, even if I fight eight rounds, I didn’t fade. So I feel strong until the eight rounds. Maybe next week I’m 100 percent, now it’s maybe 80-90 percent right now.”
Head trainer Marvin Somodio says he has also noticed a difference in how his compatriot from Bohol province in the Philippines has looked since Magsayo made the decision in 2023 to leave the weight class he had fought in since turning pro as a 17-year-old a decade earlier.
“I think what happened at 126, he didn’t want this to happen again because he struggled and had a hard time making the weight,” said Somodio. “You see the performance, the sparring, the mitt work, it’s a lot better.”
Magsayo will need all of his energy against Mata, 21-2-2 (13 KOs), an all-action brawler from Jalisco, Mexico. Mata is coming in on a five-fight winning streak since his split decision loss to Jose Luis Vazquez Hernandez in 2023. The 24-year-old has been stopped just once, against Eduardo Hernandez – the 130lbs contender whom Magsayo had been ordered by the WBC to fight in a title eliminator before Hernandez had to withdraw due to medical issues.
“Jorge Mata is a good fighter, he fought with Eduardo Hernandez, he fought well. I know his style, he’s good, and I’ve been preparing for that since my last fight,” said Magsayo, 30.
Added Somodio: “This is a very good matchup because the guy likes to fight, Mark likes to fight so I think it’ll be a fun fight to watch. I think Mark’s style is really good for him.”
Though the fight won’t be on the televised portion of the PBC pay-per-view, Magsayo has a lot to feel motivated about heading into the 10-rounder. The fight will be on the undercard of Barrios vs. Pacquiao, giving Magsayo greater exposure on the undercard of the most accomplished and popular Filipino boxer of all time.
Pacquiao’s return to the ring after four years of inactivity has brought greater attention to Filipino boxers, Magsayo included.
“It’s an honor to fight alongside a legendary fighter like Manny Pacquiao,” said Magsayo, who has won three straight since losing back to back decisions to Rey Vargas. “He’s my hero, he’s my mentor, he’s why I started boxing. He’s motivated every time he trains and fights. Now I’m on the undercard for the second time, so it’s my honor to fight with him.
“Every time we run together, train together, he motivates us and inspires us to train and work harder. He passes on that Mamba Mentality.”
Though this isn’t a title fight, there is a lot at stake for Magsayo. Should he win, promoter Sean Gibbons says Magsayo will be ordered by the WBC to face No. 3 contender Michael Magnesi, 25-2 (13 KOs), of Lazio, Italy, in an elimination bout. Magsayo-Magnesi would determine the mandatory challenger for the winner between titleholder O’Shaquie Foster and Stephen Fulton, which is expected to take place on August 16 on the undercard of the Gervonta Davis vs. Lamont Roach rematch.
Magnesi, 30, is an aggressive banger in the style of Mata and has had two opportunities at the division’s upper crust, losing a split decision in 2023 to Anthony Cacace and being stopped in 12 last year by Masanori Rikiishi – both former IBF junior lightweight titleholders. He is promoted by Alessandra Branco, who is his wife and the daughter of former WBA light heavyweight titleholder Silvio Branco.
“We’re currently negotiating that fight right now. We’d like to see it happen late September or October,” said MP Promotions President Gibbons. “If we cannot make a deal, then yes, it would go to purse bid.”
Regarding a title opportunity, Magsayo says he’d prefer to face the Foster-Fulton winner – a matchup he considers to be a pick ‘em bout – but says he’d welcome whichever opportunity presented itself first.
Somodio says matchups against Foster and WBO titleholder Emanuel Navarrete would be the most crowd-pleasing, but he believes Magsayo can beat anyone in the division.
“I think all the champions right now, I think Mark will be ready. We just have to make sure that we’re gonna win this fight,” Somodio said. “After this fight we can fight whichever champion is available. I am very confident about this.
“I’m just excited to show the new Mark Magsayo on July 19.”
Ryan Songalia is a reporter and editor for BoxingScene.com and has written for ESPN, the New York Daily News, Rappler, The Guardian, Vice and The Ring magazine. He holds a Master’s degree in Journalism from the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism and is a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. He can be reached at ryansongalia@gmail.com or on Twitter at @ryansongalia.
