by Tamas Pradarics
There are more than a few unbeaten top-rated contenders by the WBO in the featherweight division, but none of them has a better chance to secure a mandatory challenger status to face knockout puncher reigning champion Oscar Valdez than Mark Magsayo. The 22-year-old Filipino is ranked No.2 by the Puerto Rico-based sanctioning body.
The only pugilist who stands above Magsayo (17-0, 13 KOs) is American Joseph ’JoJo’ Diaz Jr (24-0, 13 KOs), but the latter is more eager to become a mandatory by the WBC when he is facing Jorge Lara in an elimination fight as a chief support to the Saul Alvarez vs Gennady Golovkin main event on an HBO PPV card on September 16 in Las Vegas.
Champion Valdez (22-0, 19 KOs) is scheduled to defend his WBO title for the third time against Magsayo’s countryman and fellow unbeaten Genesis Servania on September 22 in Tucson, Arizona. It will be the second voluntary defense for Valdez in a row after the Mexican belt holder went to war against tough Miguel Marriaga this past April.
Magsayo, who turned pro as a teenager in his native country of the Philippines in 2013, is expected to be recognized as the next mandatory challenger to Valdez, though he could very well pass on the opportunity.
”Mark could fight Valdez by now, but he will be better with more experience, so that’s what we are doing. For now, we are working on getting him opponents that could develop his skills more. We are not rushing him to a title fight, as he still needs a lot to learn,” said Mark’s promoter, Michael Aldeguer to BoxingScene.com.
The hard hitting Magsayo has spent less than four minutes in the ring in a total of two appearances this year. His most important win until today came against gatekeeper Chris Avalos. The gutsy American dropped Mark in round three in an April 2016 barnburner, causing the scariest moments in the unbeaten contender’s young career. The Filipino pugilist recovered and battered Avalos with heavy blows in round five and six until the towel flew in.
Young Magsayo will skip ALA Boxing’s September 16 card that takes place in Cebu City, Philippines, but expected to return to the squared circle later this year, possibly on the undercard of his stablemate’s, IBF flyweight champ Donnie Nietes’s scheduled November title defense.
Obviously, there is no opponent finalized for Magsayo as of yet, but Aldeguer said they are trying to secure a highly rated foe for their fighter.
”We are targeting anyone in the top 10 if we can get things done dealing with their promoters.”
You can reach Tamas Pradarics at pradaricst@yahoo.com and follow him on Twitter @TomiPradarics.