Underdog Mark ‘Magnifico’ Magsayo 24-0 (16) unseated WBC featherweight champion Gary Russell Jr 31-2 (18) by majority decision at Borgata Hotel Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey on Saturday night.
Russell was boxing’s longest reigning titleholder going in to the fight after claiming the green belt against veteran Jhonny Gonzalez in 2015 but his title reign was plagued by inactivity. He has fought just six times since then.
Filipino Magsayo, 26, was the aggressor throughout the fight. According to CompuBox, Russell’s previous eight opponents landed 28.7% of their power punches while Magsayo connected with 41%.
In the fourth round southpaw Russell aggravated an old injury in his right shoulder. Coming in to the bout, Russell averaged 37 jabs thrown per round but this time around he was unable to throw a jab for the last seven rounds.
Magsayo took advantage of his wounded foe, landing hard shots to the body and head. The right hand to the midriff was a particularly effective weapon. Russell did his best and had success in spots pot-shotting with his straight left hand but ultimately couldn’t trigger enough consistent offence to get the win.
At the end of play judge Lynne Carter couldn’t split them at 114-114, while judges Mark Consentino and Henry Eugene Grant both saw the bout in Magsayo’s favour with identical scores of 115-113.
“This is my dream come true,” Magsayo said. “Ever since I was a kid, this was my dream. I’m so proud that I’m a champion now. Thank you so much to the Filipino fans for the support.”
Magsayo admitted he knew Russell was injured.
“I knew that he was hurt,” said Magsayo. “I hit him with a good shot. That’s why he got hurt. That was a big advantage for me. He was only using one hand. This was my opportunity to follow through.
“My coach was telling me to use good combinations and follow through. He said ‘this is your chance to become a champion’ and now I am a champion.”
Russell insisted he did enough with one arm to deserve the nod.
“I believe I have a torn tendon in my right shoulder,” the 33-year-old Russell said. “I haven’t competed in almost two years. This is what true champions do. I wanted to step into the ring and display my superiority regardless of the injury and whatnot. We did that and I gave him a boxing lesson.
“I gave him a boxing lesson the whole way through. I landed clean whenever I wanted to. I couldn’t use my right arm, but I was still able to throw effective shots and touch him at will.
“I felt like I still won the fight to be honest with you. I fought with one arm. He had his hands full with a fighter with one arm and the whole fight I gave him a boxing lesson.”
Recently retired Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao praised Magsayo on social media: “Congratulations, Mark Magsayo, 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.”
