Mark Magsayo poses for a picture after defeating Gary Russell Jr. to win the WBC World Featherweight Championship at the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa on January 23, 2022 in Atlantic City, United States. Mitchell Leff/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Mitchell Leff / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)
MANILA, Philippines—Mark Magsayo achieved his childhood dream when he became WBC world featherweight champion on Sunday, and just moments later his sporting hero Manny Pacquiao welcomed him to the exclusive club of Filipino boxing greats.
Pacquiao, who owns MP Promotions, took to Twitter to congratulate Magsayo as the 26-year-old became the 45th Filipino champion and the fifth active titleholder joining Mark Cuarto, Jerwin Ancajas, John Riel Casimero, and Nonito Donaire.
Congratulations, @markmagsayo_MMM, on your first world championship! Thank you for bringing honor to our country by becoming the latest Filipino world boxing champion. Welcome to the club.
— Manny Pacquiao (@MannyPacquiao) January 23, 2022
“Congratulations @markmagsayo_MMM on your first world championship!” posted Pacquiao on Twitter. “Thank you for bringing honor to our country by becoming the latest Filipino world boxing champion. Welcome to the club.”
Magsayo won the title after he beat Gary Russell Jr. via majority decision, 115-113, 115-113, 114-114 at Borgata Hotel Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Russell, prior to the match, had the longest reign in the sport, holding the green belt for six years and 10 months after winning it in March 2015 against Jhonny Gonzalez.
Pacquiao, often regarded as one of the greatest boxers of all time, is the only fighter in the sport’s rich history to hold titles across eight weight classes.