Russell Jr Vs Magsayo The Time Test + WBC Stats
By James Blears
World Boxing Council featherweight champion Gary Russell Jr faces a mandatory defense of his title against challenger Mark Magsayo on January 22nd at the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spar in Atlantic City.
It`s shaping and forming, as a contest of experience against up and coming vitality. Has this test come too soon for Mark, leading on from the momentum of his recent KO triumph against Julio Ceja, or is the time ripe?
When you shout: “Gary in the Russell household you have to add the second name. Firstly, there`s Dad Gary Russell Sr who`s the Trainer. There`s Gary Allen who`s the WBC Champion, then undefeated super lightweight Gary Antuanne and also, unbeaten bantamweight Gary Antonio.
For all intensive purposes, Gary Allen, known as Gary Jr, is the star of the family. As an amateur he built an excellent 163-10 record, winning a bronze in the bantamweight category at the 2005 World Championships. But fainted the day before his weigh in at the 2008 Olympics, so couldn`t take part.
Gary`s been a pro since 2009, and has a record of 31-1, including 18KO`s. His only loss was to fellow southpaw Vasyl Lomachenko in 2014, for the vacant WBO featherweight title. Gary came into this fight weight drained and was also slowed by an effective body attack, losing a majority decision. One Judge scored it as a draw. The other two scored it for Vasyl. At the time Gary was 24-0, and Vasyl was 1-1! In achieving this feat, Vasyl matched Saensak Muangsurin for winning a world title in just three pro bouts.
Vasyl`s Amateur record, before turning pro was an exceptional 396-1, and he avenged his sole defeat twice. He won Golds at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics.
Gary won the WBC Green and Gold Belt in 2015, with a fourth round TKO of Jhonny Gonzalez. Gary`s speed and accuracy were spot on that night. He caught Jhonny with a big left hook to put him down in the third. Jhonny got up still shaken, and the bell rang. Two flurries in the fourth punctuated with lefts put him down twice more and it was stopped by Tony Weeks at thirty seven seconds.
Since then four successful defenses, at a rate of around one per year. Patrick Hyland KO`d in two, Oscar Escandon TKO`d in seven, Joseph “Jo Jo” Diaz UD victory, Kiko Martinez TKO in five and Tugstsogt Nyambayor UD. That win was in February 2020.
Gary who`s five feet four and a half inches tall, with a sixty four inch reach, resides in Capitol Heights, Maryland, doesn`t rush into fights. But when he does climb into the ring, he`s well prepared and sharp. As his nickname of: “Mr” suggests, he`s always determined to be the man.
An excellent body puncher, Gary carries real power in his left, but his right is far from a passenger. It`s also a steam iron, which can starch. He`s a skilled judge of distance, and isn`t easy to hit. He`s gained considerable guile and finesse along the way. But have the long spells of inactivity caused ring rust? So far it seems not. His stamina and conditioning are excellent and he`s a sharp strategist.
One wonders if he`ll ever fight Loma again, which he hankers after. But he`d have to venture up to the lightweight division for that, and his sole focus right now is Magsayo.
Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo 23-0, 16KO`s is a protege of Manny Pacquiao and Sean Gibbons, who he signed a three year contract with in 2020. He had a seventeen month hiatus, until his contract expired in 2017 with ALA Promotions, and then on to Now Boxing Promotions, before setting where he is.
Born in Tagbilaran City, Leyte, Philippines Mark lost his first three amateur fights. Unabashed, he then won most of his next two hundred. He was four times national boxing champion of the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines winning the best boxer of the tournament twice.
Mark who turned pro in 2013, has been trained and inspired by Wife Frances. He is five feet six inches tall and has a sixty eight inch reach. He has won the WBO and IBF Youth Championships and the WBC-ABC Title. He`s coached by Freddie Roach in the Wild Card Gym. Freddie says Mark is an exceptionally hard puncher with both hands, but has sometimes been somewhat static, in trying to sit down on punches. Hopefully this flaw has been polished up and out, because against Gary Russell, it would most certainly be exploited.
Mark`s biggest and most spectacular win was on August 21st last year. A mighty KO against Julio “Pollito” Ceja, which was a WBC eliminatory bout. It also won him the World Boxing Council`s Prospect of the Year Award.
Mark dropped Julio with a big left hook in the first round. But Julio returned the compliment with a left of his own in round five. Julio was winning on points when all of a sudden in round ten, Mark missed with a flailing left hook, but connected with a huge right through the gloves and slammed in another ruthless right, to knock the Mexican unconscious. Mark still had the energy to do his trademark back somersault of triumph.
Some say Mark`s stamina fluctuated as the contest went on, but it`s more likely that for a while, he lost the thread against a wily and more experienced opponent, until he went up a gear, closed the distance and landed those thunderbolts, after backing Julio into the ropes.
In this coming fight, Mark will need to apply constant pressure. No margin for error or easing up at any point. Youth is on his side and he possesses real power. He`s a chilling finisher.
Gary has appreciably more experience and will draw upon this. He has very fast hands, is a relentless pressure fighter and an effective body puncher. Fighting… but seldom seems to suit him. But being seven years older, can he still be honed enough for a challenge of this magnitude after an almost two year ring absence?
Gary`s guile and subtlety Vs Mark`s energy and ability to leave his mark. It`s going to fast paced and a lot of punches will be exchanged in what`s likely to develop into an explosive slugfest. Everything in life…is timing.
WBC FEATHERWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
January 22, 2022 / Atlantic City, New Jersey / Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa
TGB PROMOTIONS PRESENTS:
“Mr.” GARY RUSSELL JR. (U.S.A.)
WBC Featherweight World Champion / 6th title defense
Age: 33 / Date of birth: June 5, 1988
Residence: Capitol Heights, Maryland / Birthplace: Washington, D.C.
Record: 31-1, 18 KOs / Total rounds: 160 / World championship fights: 6-1, 4 KOs
Height: 5’4.5″ – 164 cm / Reach: 64″ – 163 cm / Stance: Left-handed
Manager: Al Haymon / Trainer: Gary Russell Sr.
MARK “Magnifico” MAGSAYO (Philippines)
Ranked WBC No. 2 / mandatory challenger at 126 pounds
Age: 26 / Date of birth: June 22, 1995
Residence: Rizal, Metro Manila, Philippines / Birthplace: Tacloban, Leyte, Philippines
Record: 23-0, 16 KOs / Total rounds: 119
Height: 5’6″ – 168cm / Reach: 68″ – 173cm / Stance: Right-handed
Manager: Frances Magsayo / Trainer: Freddie Roach
WBC FEATHERWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONS:
1. Davey Moore (US) + 1963
2. Ultiminio Ramos (Mex) 1963 – 1964
3. Vicente Saldivar (Mex) + 1964 – 1967
4. Howard Winstone (Wales) + 1968
5. Jose Legra (Cuba) 1968 – 1969
6. Johnny Famechon (Fran) 1969 – 1970
7. Vicente Saldivar (Mex) * + 1970
8. Kuniaki Shibata (Japan) 1970 – 1972
9. Clemente Sanchez (Mex) + 1972
10. Jose Legra (Cuba) * 1972 – 1973
11. Eder Jofre (Bra) 1973
12. Bobby Chacon (US) 1974 – 1975
13. Ruben Olivares (Mex) 1975
14. David Kotey (Ghana) 1975 – 1976
15. Danny Lopez (US) 1976 – 1980
16. Salvador Sanchez (Mex) + 1980 – 1982
17. Juan Laporte (P. Rico( 1982 – 1984
18. Wilfredo Gomez (P. Rico) 1984
19. Azumah Nelson (Ghana) 1984 – 1987
20. Jeff Fenech (Aust) 1988 – 1990
21. Marcos Villasana (Mex) 1990 – 1991
22. Paul Hodkinson (GB) 1991 – 1993
23. Goyo Vargas (Mex) 1993
24. Kevin Kelley (US) 1993 – 1995
25. Alejandro Gonzalez (Mex) 1995
26. Manuel Medina (Mex) 1995
27. Luisito Espinosa (Phil) 1995 – 1999
28. Cesar Soto (Mex) 1999
29. Naseem Hamed (GB) 1999
30. Guty Espadas (Mex) 2000 – 2001
31. Erik Morales (Mex) 2001 – 2002
32. Marco Antonio Barrera (Mex) 2002
33. Erik Morales (Mex) * 2002 – 2003
34. Injin Chi (Korea) 2004 – 2006
35. Takashi Koshimoto (Japan) 2006
36. Humberto Soto (Mex) Interim 2005 – 2006
37. Rodolfo Lopez (Mex) 2006
38. Injin Chi (Korea) * 2006
39. Jorge Linares (Ven) 2007
40. Oscar Larios (Mex) 2008 – 2009
41. Tahakahiro Aoh (Jap) 2009
42. Elio Rojas (Dom. R.) 2010
43. Hozumi Hasegawa (Jap) 2010 – 2011
44. Jhonny Gonzalez (Mex) 2011 – 2012
45. Daniel Ponce de Leon Mex) 2012 – 2013
46. Abner Mares (US) 2013
47. Jhonny Gonzalez (Mex)* 2013 – 2015
48. Gary Russell Jr. (US) 2015 –
* Regained
WBC FEATHERWEIGHT TOP 10 CHAMPIONS
1. Salvador Sanchez (Mexico) +
2. Azumah Nelson (Ghana)
3. Erik Morales (Mexico)
4. Marco Antonio Barrera (Mexico)
5. Vicente Saldivar (Mexico) +
6. Ultiminio Ramos (Mexico/Cuba)
7. Davey Moore (United States) +
8. Danny Lopez (United States)
9. Jeff Fenech (Australia)
10. Marcos Villasana (Mexico)
GENERAL INFORMATION ON THE FEATHERWEIGHT DIVISION IN WBC HISTORY:
43 world champions have been recognized by the WBC, of whom only five have regained the title: Vicente Saldivar (Mexico), Jose Legra (Cuba-Spain), Erik Morales (Mexico), Injin Chi (Korea), Jhonny Gonzalez (Mexico).
130 WBC featherweight world title fights have been held in WBC history.
MEMORABLE FIGHTS
Feb. 8, 2020 Gary Russell Jr. W12 Tugstsogt Nyambayar – Allentown, Pennsylvania
May 19, 2018 Gary Russell Jr. W12 Joseph Diaz – Oxon Hill, Maryland
Mar. 28, 2015 Gary Russell Jr. TKO4 Jhonny Gonzalez – Las Vegas, Nevada
Aug. 24, 2013 Jhonny Gonzalez KO1 Abner Mares – Carson, California
May 4, 2013 Abner Mares TKO9 Daniel Ponce de Leon – Las Vegas, Nevada
April 8, 2011 Jhonny Gonzalez TKO4 Hozumi Hasegawa – Kobe, Japan
Nov. 26, 2010 Hozumi Hasegawa W12 Juan Carlos Burgos – Nagoya, Japan
Mar. 12, 2009 Takahiro Ao W12 Oscar Larios – Tokyo, Japan
May 31, 2008 Oscar Larios TKO5 Feider Viloria – Chetumal, Mexico
July 21, 2007 Jorge Linares TKO10 Oscar Larios – Las Vegas Nevada
Aug. 20, 2005 Humberto Soto W12 Rocky Juarez – Rosemont, Illinois
April 10, 2004 In-Jin Chi KO7 Michael Brodie – Manchester, England
Nov. 16, 2002 Erik Morales W12 Paulie Ayala – Las Vegas, Nevada
June 22, 2002 Marco Antonio Barrera W12 Erik Morales – Las Vegas, Nevada
July 28, 2001 Erik Morales W12 In-Jin Chi – Los Angeles, California
Oct. 22, 1999 Naseem Hamed W12 Cesar Soto – Detroit, Michigan
Jan. 7, 1995 Alejandro Gonzalez TKO10 Kevin Kelley – San Antonio, Texas
May 6, 1994 Kevin Kelley W12 Jesse Benavides – Atlantic City, New Jersey
April 28, 1993 Goya Vargas TKO7 Paul Hodkinson – Dublin, Ireland
Nov. 13, 1991 Paul Hodkinson W12 Marcos Villasana – Belfast, Northern Ireland
Aug. 15, 1991 Marcos Villasana W12 Ricardo Cepeda – Marbella, Spain
April 8, 1989 Jeff Fenech W12 Marcos Villasana – Melbourne, Australia
Dec. 12, 1984 Azumah Nelson KO11 Wilfredo Gomez – San Juan, Puerto Rico
Mar. 31, 1984 Wilfredo Gomez W12 Juan Laporte – San Juan, Puerto Rico
July 21, 1982 Salvador Sanchez TKO15 Azumah Nelson – New York, New York
Aug. 21, 1981 Salvador Sanchez TKO8 Wilfredo Gomez – Las Vegas, Nevada
June 21, 1980 Salvador Sanchez TKO14 Danny Lopez – Las Vegas, Nevada
June 17, 1979 Danny Lopez KO15 Mike Ayala – San Antonio, Texas
June 20, 1975 Ruben Olivares TKO2 Bobby Chacon – Inglewood, California
March 1, 1975 Bobby Chacon KO2 Jesus Estrada – Los Angeles, California
Oct. 21, 1973 Eder Jofre KO4 Vicente Saldivar – Salvador, Brazil
May 9, 1970 Vicente Saldivar W15 Johnny Famechon – Rome, Italy
Mar. 21, 1963 Sugar Ramos TKO10 Davey Moore – Los Angeles, California
WBC Statistics by Luis Medina.
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