Unbeaten former 122lb champion Rey Vargas (36-0, 22 KOs) dethroned WBC featherweight champion Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo (24-1, 16 KOs) by twelve round split decision on Saturday night at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. In a slugfest, Vargas stood his ground and gave Magsayo all he could handle. Magsayo dropped Vargas in round nine, but Vargas was far busier throughout the bout. Scores were 115-112, 115-112 Vargas, 114-113 Magsayo.
After the fight, Vargas set his sights on a potential unification fight against four-division world champion and current WBA featherweight world champion Leo Santa Cruz, a potentially huge Mexico vs. Mexico clash.
“Now I want the unification bout,” said Vargas. “I want to fight Leo Santa Cruz. We’ve already talked about it with my team and I’m ready.”
Good fight even though I thought Vargas lost but it was close…
Vargas very lucky – did not completely take advantage of the body shots he handed out – this is when he had Magsayo hurt…..his corner is old and not completely in tune – just luck at the way the cut was addressed. Vargas lost his legs after the knockdown and was very lucky to survive. Magsayo could not effectively jab due to leg and foot movement and placement- he is a work in progress but he will be back – i feel he has far more of a future than Vargas
Vargas took that one for me, but definitely a good fight.
Vargas’ experience was too much for the kid.
Arturo and Lucie: You both obviously know very little about boxing. First, let me start with Magsayo: he was lucky to win the title from Russell, 100% due to Russell fighting for 10 rounds with one hand, not Magsayos skillset. He bores in and throws looping right hands and hooks, praying to hurt his opponent, and only relies on power; has no jab, whatsover, and thinks he’s Manny Pacqaio, with his little stutter step and lunge technique, hence the reason Pacman ended up with 8 or 9 losses, including several brutal KO’s. As an aside: the roids helped Pac go through all of those weight classes…facts! Next, let me critique Vargas. On a positive note, he jabs and implores a body attack to his style, but he loads up on the right hand with no hooks coming behind it and drops his hands way too much. I also believe his chin is suspect and he’s not athletic enough to keep dropping those hands. A healthy GRJ washes both these guys as well as Stephen Fulton, if he moves to 26, and Brandon Figeurora will demolish both these guys. Smart move by Figeurora and his people, easy world title coming his way that he could not get from Cool Boy Steph. Mediocre fight at best, it followed the same script round after round, minus the knockdown in the 9th, when Magsayo actually threw a straight punch. Your welcome!
It sounds like you wana justify russel lost
DMV. Both Arturo and Lucie’s comments are simply quick opinions about the fight – and I agree with them. They are not about boxing strategy or knowledge and do not show that they know very little about boxing.
Thanks Ward. I had to go back and see what I said, I was really sleepy last night, maybe I said something crazy. We barely said anything, what the hell is all of that lol!
You obviously havent followed Pac from the beginning. He was 140 lbs boiling down to 112 at the start. Well published in Asian news back in the day. Cant remember who but they were trying to bring in one of Sot Chitladas trainers as he had the same problems.
He was not 140 lbs dropping to 112? He was a 16 y/o kid fighting at 106 and 107. He did not walk around at 140 as a 16 y/o kid. This is a lie.
People will be more receptive if you don’t start with “obviously you know nothing about boxing…”
And I would hasten to add, don’t end a rant post with “You’re welcome!”
not even you’re welcome…. he said ” your welcome” L0L!
Please show the facts where Pacquiao was on roids.
I don’t remember him testing positive for clenbuterol like canelo. That is a fact.
Some people are haters, some are just delusional.
Others just create lies in order to avoid facing a fighter in his prime for five years!
You are correct and he did not walk around at 140 and drop to 112. He was a skinny 16 y/o kid fighting ar 106 and 107 lbs.
This is correct, Magsayo should not have had the title. GRJ should still be the champion. Even with one hand GRJ out boxed Magsayo. He’s limited and It showed last weekend
Since you’re so knowledge can you explain how steroids helps your chin? Does it make you take a bigger punch? Cause if that’s the case there would be 30 Pac-Man out there.
Hats off to Vargas because he stayed in the middle of the ring and continued fighting with good body punches, a “snappy” jab; and a nice array of power punches. Vargas’ chin also held up for a big victory. Magsayo thought Vargas was going to run but nope…he guessed wrong.
Magsayo should have listened to Pacman’s pre-fight advice by closing the distance with head movements and quick feet. Magsayo’s head movements were lousy. Magsayo’s lunging kept him off balanced and unable to effectively set up proper power punches. When Vargas was hurt, Magsayo did not control himself and threw “bar room brawl”/“street alley” punches…ineffective techniques for professional boxing.
Vargas displayed better boxing skills and more “hustle skills.” Who is next for Vargas?…Leo Santa Cruz. However, B. Figueroa will eventually create enough havoc to clean out 126. Folks, B. Figueroa is no joke!!
they should of gave it to Magsayo he was the one who knocked down vargas in a close split decision.
He got an knockdown but Vargas landed more punches and threw way more, he was more active. You wins fights by winning rounds and accumulating points not by one knockdown. Good fight overall.
Magsayo took some hits, however, it didn’t affected him
unfortunately, that isn’t how boxing works.
Not really-Vargas won most of the other rounds.
Rematch? Like in L.A. venue?
Rematch? Why? Magsayo go beat soundly.
for those of you who thought magsayo won the fight simply have no clue. aside from that legit knockdown in the ninth round, vargas gave magsayo a nice little boxing lesson tonight. i like magsayo but he needs a lot of work with his wildness, footwork, defense and his offense needs to be more defined instead of going all out for the knockout with every punch.
This is a very true statement. He was way too wild and even after the knockdown, he almost threw himself out of the ring with a punch, because he was so wild and uncoordinated.
I scored it 8-4 (115-112) for Vargas. I feel that Vargas is open for shots and won’t be a long reigning champion.
Agree
Well, I’m not sure what fight you watched where you people think magsayo won. I thought he won the first round, the ninth with the knock down and maybe one more. Other than that and not sure what where you watching. Magsayo is actually pretty bad, never throws a jab and is ALWAYS launching forward face first. When he fought Ceja, he was losing and losing wide. He’s lucky Ceja has no chin or he would’ve lost. The Russell fight, was a horrible and boring fight and even with Russell being injured, he barely won.
Vargas is what he is. He’s an ok fighter who’s strong and makes others fight his fight. To my view has always looked burnerable but always manage to get the win. However, at featherweight it’ll be a different story with the bigger and stronger fighters. And I read someone wrote that Brandon Figueroa will clean the division, but don’t forget about Navarrete, I think he’ll give Figueroa,Santa Cruz,Magsayo and Vargas a good beating for 12 rounds.
If you think Magsagayo won then you are more than likely Filipino. Awesome fight, Vargas boxed well and had to stay on his toes the whole fight, Magsagayo was frustrated but always was one punch away from winning the whole fight , and that’s what made it thrilling.
vargas won this one vicious body puncher it was a good competitive fight
Great fight regardless of the final decision, in response to DMV that GRJ and Fulton would wipe out Vargas might be true but it’s only his assumption. Let’s not ignore the fact that those two boxers even though they are superb athletes, they have recently been putting fans and announcers to sleep with their style of fighting. Last night’s fight and the comments made here merit much more respect regardless of your knowledge.
A very poor performance by Magsayo. Lunging in with power shots behind no jab, missing badly with windmills throwing himself totally off balance. Vargas looked like the more refined fighter utilizing the jab, going to the body, and countering Magsayo’s recklessness. I predict the WBC 126lb title will be passed around like a hot potato for a while after GRJ held it hostage for 6 years.
Mark is a world class fighter. Rey just better. Hope to see them back in the ring again soon.
I thought it was an entertaining fight with Vargas the clear winner. Vargas controlled the fight with good boxing skills and Magsayo never made the necessary adjustments. I thought Vargas won nine rounds.
Magsayo got robbed in texas he knocked down vargas 3 times watch the fight again the referee wasnt really paying attention.
Vargas was just a very tough assignment to get for a initial title defense for a new titleholder. Magsayo was probably confident due to the recent inactivity of Vargas. I still think he can learn from this lesson and improve.
Vargas won this fight with the decision being fair. Credit to Magsayo for fighting his ass off though it was clear the height and reach advantage of Vargas to add the right fight strategy for Vargas is what sealed the deal. Magsayo was resetting to the outside too much when his effective range was up close when he should of roughed up Vargas against the ropes in a telephone booth style fight. No guarantee Magsayo wins in that style of fighting but when Vargas went down it was within Magsayo’s range.