Mark Magsayo (L) of the Philippines fights against Julio Ceja of Mexico during the WBA Featherweight Title Eliminator boxing match at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on August 21, 2021. (Photo by Patrick T. FALLON / AFP)
MANILA, Philippines—For Mark Magsayo, going to his first World title fight is nothing short of a movie script.
The undefeated Filipino boxer had to make the comeback of his life to knock out Julio Ceja and set up his title challenge against WBC featherweight champion Gary Russell Jr.
Down on the canvass and on the scorecards, Magsayo rode his second wind and put Ceja to sleep in the 10th round in his Las Vegas debut. The KO was voted Premier Boxing Championship’s best of 2021.
Magsayo (23-0) believes he couldn’t have had a better precursor against Russell than his fight against Ceja.
“I learned a lot from that fight,” said Magsayo as per BoxingScene.com. “I learned a lesson on how to box. I made an adjustment in the middle of the fight and knocked him out.”
Mark Magsayo (R) of the Philippines backflips as he celebrates after knocking down Julio Ceja (L) of Mexico during the WBA Featherweight Title Eliminator boxing match at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on August 21, 2021. (Photo by Patrick T. FALLON / AFP)
Magsayo scored the first knockdown of the fight sending the former WBC junior featherweight champion to the mat but Ceja quickly established his game and outboxed the Filipino slugger.
Ceja then sent Magsayo to the ground in the fifth and held a comfortable 58-54 lead in all three scorecards.
A mid-fight adjustment gave Magsayo the boost to dismantle the Mexican fighter and a scary pair of right hands ultimately put Ceja out in the 10th.
Magsayo said that he was already aware of what’s at stake against Ceja and that MP Promotions President Sean Gibbons told him that a win will lead to a title match against Russell.
“Sir Sean told me that if I won that fight, I wouid face Gary Russell,” said Magsayo. “So, I had to win to fight Gary Russell.”
Magsayo and Russell will headline Showtime Championship Boxing’s January 22 card at Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City.