New champ Mark Magsayo 'willing to fight anybody' | Inquirer Sports

New champ Mark Magsayo ‘willing to fight anybody’

By: - Reporter / @BLozadaINQ
/ 05:06 PM January 23, 2022

Mark Magsayo

Mark Magsayo reacts after fighting Gary Russell Jr. for 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 said he is ready to face whoever gets in his way as he now tries to build on a growing legacy after becoming the WBC featherweight champion Sunday (Manila time).

The 26-year-old scored a majority upset win over long-reigning titleholder Gary Russell Jr. for the strap at Borgata Hotel Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey making him the fifth active Filipino fighter to hold a major championship.

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“My dream came true. This is my dream since I was a child. I’m so proud I’m a champion now. Thank you to all Filipino fans,” said Magsayo in the post-fight interview with Showtime’s Jim Gray.

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“I’m willing to fight anybody now. I’m the champion.”

Magsayo played the aggressor role for much of the fight and managed to put a beating on Russell, who held the WBC strap for six years and 10 months, in the third.

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Russell, who fought through a torn tendon in his right shoulder, never threw a jab starting in the sixth and Magsayo managed to take advantage of his handicapped opponent beginning in the 10th.

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As Magsayo declared his open challenge, Russell expressed his desire to set up a rematch against the new champion.

“I’ll rematch him, hell yeah,” said Russell.

Magsayo, however, didn’t give a concrete answer when asked about a potential rematch as he’d rather let MP Promotions President Sean Gibbons take care of the match-making.

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TAGS: Gary Russell Jr, Mark Magsayo

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