MANILA – Filipino boxer Mark Magsayo will vie for the vacant World Boxing Organization (WBO) International featherweight championship against Julio Ceja of Mexico on Saturday night (Sunday in the Philippines) at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
This will be an opportunity for the Tagbilaran, Bohol-native Magsayo to reclaim the WBO featherweight diadem he previously held when he defeated American Chris Avalos in 2016.
The 26-year-old boxer was motivated to perform well against his Mexican foe since this will be his first time to fight in the undercard of the eight-division world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao.
“I’m excited about this upcoming fight. It’s a dream come true to fight alongside the legend Senator Manny Pacquiao,” said Magsayo, who is handled by the MP Promotions.
“Ceja is a good fighter, he’s a tough fighter, he’s an aggressive fighter,” he added. “I’m gonna do my best to win this fight and get the belt. It’s gonna be a war always for Philippines and Mexico.”
Magsayo holds an unblemished record of 22 wins with 15 knockouts (KOs). The 29-year old Ceja, on the other hand, sports a record of 32-4-1 (win-loss-draw) with 28 victories by way of KOs.
The winner of the Magsayo-Ceja tussle will move closer to a crack at the belt against reigning and long-time World Boxing Council featherweight king Gary Russell Jr., who owns a 31-1-0 record with 18 KOs.
Aside from Magsayo, undefeated Filipino slugger, John Dato is set to fight in the undercard of Pacquiao-Yordenis Ugas’ clash for the latter’s World Boxing Association’s world welterweight belt.
Dato, a native of Bangar, La Union but now based in Santa Maria, California, will compete with Mexican Angel Antonio Contreras in a six-round non-title bout in the lightweight division.
Dato will parade his untarnished 14-0-1 record with nine KO victories. Contreras has 10-4-2 win-loss-draw, with six stoppage wins./PN
