Mark Magsayo is ready to take his act stateside. (photo by Wendell Alinea)

The unbeaten featherweight contender from Manila, Philippines has signed a promotional contract with Manny Pacquiao’s MP Promotions (MPP) which will also include a partnership with TGB Promotions, MPP president Sean Gibbons confirmed to BoxingScene.com on Tuesday. The deal will allow Magsayo (24-0, 14KOs) to be showcased under the Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) banner in the United States.

“We have been watching Mark for a few years now, bounced around and his career was put on hold for various reasons,” stated Gibbons.  “But he is home now with MP Promotions and we are thrilled for Mark and his wife Frances that they signed with us.”

Tentative plans call for Magsayo to make his MPP and PBC debut on May 16, on a card featuring two title fights—bantamweight titlist Nordine Oubaali versus former four-division titlsit Nonito Donaire, and an interim welterweight title fight between Sergey Lipinets and Kudratillo Abdukakharov.

Magsayo has fought primarily in his native Philippines, including a 12-round regional title fight win in his most recent start last August. The 24-year old has made two previous appearances in the United States, producing drastically opposite results in scoring a 1st round knocking in his October 2015 stateside debut and then going the distance in September 2016.

Activity has been an issue, having not fought at all in 2018 and—though fighting twice in 2019—not making his way to the ring in more than six months and counting. His luck figures to change, now backed by three of the most influential entities in the sport today. 

“I would want to thank Senator Manny Pacquiao from the bottom of my heart and MPP President Sean Gibbons for this opportunity to box under MP Promotions banner,” said Magsayo. “I want to thank the Senator for helping me and all the Filipino boxers, for changing our lives and helping us .

“I am more inspired to fight now especially since Senator Manny Pacquiao is my Idol. I look up to him a lot. I started boxing because of him. I will not waste the opportunity and will do my best to fulfill my dreams.”

As much is believed by Pacquiao, a still-active eight-division and reigning welterweight titlist, who also splits his time between the ring, promoting and current duties as a Senator in his native Philippines.

The legendary southpaw is never too busy, however, to throw his support behind a worthy talent. 

“I am thrilled to sign undefeated world-rated contender Mark ‘Magnifico’ Magsayo,” stated Pacquiao, who himself is eying a summertime ring return. “I have watched Mark develop here in the Philippines as a fighter. He reminds me of myself, how we both struggled to come from nothing to world-rated contender.

“I love his work ethic and desire to become a world champion and I will do everything to help promote Mark and make his dreams a reality.”

A similar approach helped MPP land the services of John Riel Casimero, who came to them as a former two-division titlist. He has since claimed a bantamweight belt and is now entering the biggest fight of his career, a unification clash with unbeaten pound-for-pound entrant Naoya Inoue on April 25 in Las Vegas.

Magsayo is highly rated by the WBC, WBA and IBF, with the intention on the MPP side to push him from rising contender to the Philippines’ next reigning champ.

“We look forward to making Mark’s dreams of fighting in the U.S. again and becoming a world champion come true,” promises Gibbons.

Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox