Tag: rey vargas

Photos: Mark Magsayo vs. Rey Vargas weigh-in

Photos: Mark Magsayo vs. Rey Vargas weigh-in.

WBC featherweight titleholder Mark Magsayo and challenger Rey Vargas made weight for their fight Saturday in San Antonio (Showtime).

Both men weighed 125.5 pounds, .5 below the division limit.

Here are the weights for the other featured bouts:

  • Brandon Figueroa (126.0) vs. Carlos Castro (124.5), featherweights.
  • Frank Martin (137.5) vs. Jackson Marinez (138.0), junior welterweights.
  • Rashidi Ellis (153.5) vs. Jose Marrufo (146.25), junior middleweights.

Here are images from the weigh-in. All photos by Esther Lin of Showtime.

Mark Magsayo vs. Rey Vargas: date, time, how to watch, background

Mark Magsayo vs. Rey Vargas: date, time, how to watch, background.

Featherweight titleholder Mark Magsayo will make the first defense of his 126-pound title against Rey Vargas on Saturday in San Antonio.

MARK MAGSAYO (24-0, 16 KOS) VS. REY VARGAS (35-0, 22 KOS)

  • Date: Saturday, July 9
  • Time: 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m.. PT (main event later in show)
  • Where: Alamodome, San Antonio
  • TV/Stream: Showtime
  • Division: Featherweight (unlimited)
  • Rounds: 12
  • At stake: Magsayo’s WBC title
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: None
  • Odds: Even (average of multiple outlets)
  • Also on the card: Brandon Figueroa vs. Carlos Castro, featherweights; Rashidi Ellis vs. Alberto Palmetta, welterweights
  • Prediction: Joyce KO 5
  • Background: Mark Magsayo upset Gary Russell Jr. by a majority decision to win the WBC featherweight title in January. On Saturday, the Filipino will attempt to prove that break-through victory was no fluke. The protégé of his promoter, Manny Pacquiao, is an improving boxer with elite punching power. He needed the latter against Julio Ceja in the fight that preceded his victory over Russell, as Ceja was winning on all cards when he was stopped in the 10th round. That earned Magsayo a shot at Russell, the long-reigning 126-pound champion who injured (or re-injured) his right shoulder early in the fight. The challenger did enough to win on two cards and walk away with his first major title. He figures to receive a stiff challenge from Vargas, a tall (5-foot-10½), slick boxer-puncher from Mexico. He won the WBC 122-pound title by outpointing Gavin McDonnell in 2017 and made five successful defenses before injuries forced him to step away from the sport between 2019 and last year. He returned as a 126-pounder and easily outpointed Leonardo Baez in his comeback fight, which took place in November. The oddsmakers see this as a 50-50 matchup. Also on the card, Brandon Figueroa (22-1, 17 KOs) will make his debut at 122 pounds against Carlos Castro (27-1, 12 KOs) of Mexico. He lost a disputed decision in a 118-pound title-unification bout with Stephen Fulton in November, his most-recent fight.

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Mark Magsayo vs. Rey Vargas: date, time, how to watch, background

Mark Magsayo vs. Rey Vargas: date, time, how to watch, background.

Featherweight titleholder Mark Magsayo will make the first defense of his 126-pound title against Rey Vargas on Saturday in San Antonio.

MARK MAGSAYO (24-0, 16 KOS) VS. REY VARGAS (35-0, 22 KOS)

  • Date: Saturday, July 9
  • Time: 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m.. PT (main event later in show)
  • Where: Alamodome, San Antonio
  • TV/Stream: Showtime
  • Division: Featherweight (unlimited)
  • Rounds: 12
  • At stake: Magsayo’s WBC title
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: None
  • Odds: Even (average of multiple outlets)
  • Also on the card: Brandon Figueroa vs. Carlos Castro, featherweights; Rashidi Ellis vs. Alberto Palmetta, welterweights
  • Prediction: Joyce KO 5
  • Background: Mark Magsayo upset Gary Russell Jr. by a majority decision to win the WBC featherweight title in January. On Saturday, the Filipino will attempt to prove that break-through victory was no fluke. The protégé of his promoter, Manny Pacquiao, is an improving boxer with elite punching power. He needed the latter against Julio Ceja in the fight that preceded his victory over Russell, as Ceja was winning on all cards when he was stopped in the 10th round. That earned Magsayo a shot at Russell, the long-reigning 126-pound champion who injured (or re-injured) his right shoulder early in the fight. The challenger did enough to win on two cards and walk away with his first major title. He figures to receive a stiff challenge from Vargas, a tall (5-foot-10½), slick boxer-puncher from Mexico. He won the WBC 122-pound title by outpointing Gavin McDonnell in 2017 and made five successful defenses before injuries forced him to step away from the sport between 2019 and last year. He returned as a 126-pounder and easily outpointed Leonardo Baez in his comeback fight, which took place in November. The oddsmakers see this as a 50-50 matchup. Also on the card, Brandon Figueroa (22-1, 17 KOs) will make his debut at 122 pounds against Carlos Castro (27-1, 12 KOs) of Mexico. He lost a disputed decision in a 118-pound title-unification bout with Stephen Fulton in November, his most-recent fight.

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Mark Magsayo intends to silence those who doubt him

Mark Magsayo intends to silence those who doubt him when he defends his 126-pound title against Rey Vargas on Saturday.

Is Mark Magsayo the genuine article? Or has luck been his greatest asset?

The hard-punching protégé of Manny Pacquiao is coming off a majority-decision victory over long-reigning WBC 126-pound champ Gary Russell Jr. in January that gave him his first major world title.

Now he must prove it wasn’t a fluke.

After all, Russell, a southpaw, was a one-handed fighter from the fourth round on after injuring (or re-injuring) his right shoulder yet lost a close decision. Some believe Magsayo was fortunate to have his hand raised afterward.

His reaction to that notion? He said he doesn’t care what others think and suggested that a two-handed, more aggressive Russell might’ve been stopped.

“If that shoulder is not hurt, maybe there’s a knockout there,” he said. “My counter was very effective that fight. … My counter and my speed and my power was very effective. And that time that he got hurt he was always running.

“It’s hard to catch him when your opponent is running and is a good fighter.”

Still, Magsayo (24-0, 16 KOs) must do more before he will be considered one of the best in the business.

Freddie Roach, Pacquiao’s longtime mentor, loves training Magsayo because of his work ethic. He reminds Roach of Pacquiao in that respect. And the 27-year-old has plenty of power, which he has shown repeatedly in his decade-long career.

He has room to grow, though. That was clear in the fight that preceded the showdown with Russell, a 10th-round knockout victory over clever Julio Ceja last August. Magsayo was down on all three cards at the time of the stoppage.

Of course, Magsayo deserves full credit for getting the job done in spectacular fashion. It was no accident. At the same time, the fact Ceja was leading 87-82, 86-83 and 86-83 might be a red flag.

Roach suggests that you give Magsayo time.

“They have the same work ethic. They just love to train hard,” Roach said when asked to reveal similarities and differences between Pacquiao and Magsayo. “… I’d say he’s 20% better than he was two months ago. He’s never satisfied.”

But …

“Mark is still learning and gaining world championship experience,” Roach added. “I’d say experience may be the biggest difference right now.”

Maybe Magsayo will put it all together against Vargas (35-0, 22 KOs), a tall, rangy former 122-pound champion from Mexico and a legitimate threat to beat him. The oddsmakers say the fight is a tossup.

“Mark knows he’s in tough,” Roach said.

If Magsayo wins this fight, his critics will have a lot less to talk about.

“A lot of people doubt my talent, my skills,” he said. “… They say, ‘You beat the one-handed guy.’ That’s what people say. Doubters are there always. I don’t care. … (But) I do want to prove that I’m a good fighter, the best fighter in this division,

“That’s why I work hard every time in the gym. I’m ready for this coming fight.”

[lawrence-related id=31326,31228]

Mark Magsayo intends to silence those who doubt him

Mark Magsayo intends to silence those who doubt him when he defends his 126-pound title against Rey Vargas on Saturday.

Is Mark Magsayo the genuine article? Or has luck been his greatest asset?

The hard-punching protégé of Manny Pacquiao is coming off a majority-decision victory over long-reigning WBC 126-pound champ Gary Russell Jr. in January that gave him his first major world title.

Now he must prove it wasn’t a fluke.

After all, Russell, a southpaw, was a one-handed fighter from the fourth round on after injuring (or re-injuring) his right shoulder yet lost a close decision. Some believe Magsayo was fortunate to have his hand raised afterward.

His reaction to that notion? He said he doesn’t care what others think and suggested that a two-handed, more aggressive Russell might’ve been stopped.

“If that shoulder is not hurt, maybe there’s a knockout there,” he said. “My counter was very effective that fight. … My counter and my speed and my power was very effective. And that time that he got hurt he was always running.

“It’s hard to catch him when your opponent is running and is a good fighter.”

Still, Magsayo (24-0, 16 KOs) must do more before he will be considered one of the best in the business.

Freddie Roach, Pacquiao’s longtime mentor, loves training Magsayo because of his work ethic. He reminds Roach of Pacquiao in that respect. And the 27-year-old has plenty of power, which he has shown repeatedly in his decade-long career.

He has room to grow, though. That was clear in the fight that preceded the showdown with Russell, a 10th-round knockout victory over clever Julio Ceja last August. Magsayo was down on all three cards at the time of the stoppage.

Of course, Magsayo deserves full credit for getting the job done in spectacular fashion. It was no accident. At the same time, the fact Ceja was leading 87-82, 86-83 and 86-83 might be a red flag.

Roach suggests that you give Magsayo time.

“They have the same work ethic. They just love to train hard,” Roach said when asked to reveal similarities and differences between Pacquiao and Magsayo. “… I’d say he’s 20% better than he was two months ago. He’s never satisfied.”

But …

“Mark is still learning and gaining world championship experience,” Roach added. “I’d say experience may be the biggest difference right now.”

Maybe Magsayo will put it all together against Vargas (35-0, 22 KOs), a tall, rangy former 122-pound champion from Mexico and a legitimate threat to beat him. The oddsmakers say the fight is a tossup.

“Mark knows he’s in tough,” Roach said.

If Magsayo wins this fight, his critics will have a lot less to talk about.

“A lot of people doubt my talent, my skills,” he said. “… They say, ‘You beat the one-handed guy.’ That’s what people say. Doubters are there always. I don’t care. … (But) I do want to prove that I’m a good fighter, the best fighter in this division,

“That’s why I work hard every time in the gym. I’m ready for this coming fight.”

[lawrence-related id=31326,31228]

Fight Week: Mark Magsayo to make first title defense against Rey Vargas

Fight Week: Mark Magsayo will make his first title defense against Rey Vargas on Saturday in San Antonio.

FIGHT WEEK

Featherweight titleholder Mark Magsayo makes the first defense of his 126-pound title against Rey Vargas on Saturday in San Antonio. Also Saturday, in London, Derek Chisora will take on Kubrat Pulev.

MARK MAGSAYO (24-0, 16 KOS) VS. REY VARGAS (35-0, 22 KOS)

  • When: Saturday, July 9
  • Time: 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m.. PT (main event later in show)
  • Where: Alamodome, San Antonio
  • TV/Stream: Showtime
  • Division: Featherweight (unlimited)
  • Rounds: 12
  • At stake: Magsayo’s WBC title
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: None
  • Odds: Even (average of multiple outlets)
  • Also on the card: Brandon Figueroa vs. Carlos Castro, featherweights; Rashidi Ellis vs. Alberto Palmetta, welterweights
  • Prediction: Joyce KO 5
  • Background: Mark Magsayo upset Gary Russell Jr. by a majority decision to win the WBC featherweight title in January. On Saturday, the Filipino will attempt to prove that break-through victory was no fluke. The protégé of his promoter, Manny Pacquiao, is an improving boxer with elite punching power. He needed the latter against Julio Ceja in the fight that preceded his victory over Russell, as Ceja was winning on all cards when he was stopped in the 10th round. That earned Magsayo a shot at Russell, the long-reigning 126-pound champion who injured (or re-injured) his right shoulder early in the fight. The challenger did enough to win on two cards and walk away with his first major title. He figures to receive a stiff challenge from Vargas, a tall (5-foot-10½), slick boxer-puncher from Mexico. He won the WBC 122-pound title by outpointing Gavin McDonnell in 2017 and made five successful defenses before injuries forced him to step away from the sport between 2019 and last year. He returned as a 126-pounder and easily outpointed Leonardo Baez in his comeback fight, which took place in November. The oddsmakers see this as a 50-50 matchup. Also on the card, Brandon Figueroa (22-1, 17 KOs) will make his debut at 122 pounds against Carlos Castro (27-1, 12 KOs) of Mexico. He lost a disputed decision in a 118-pound title-unification bout with Stephen Fulton in November, his most-recent fight.

 

DEREK CHISORA (32-12, 23 KOS) VS. KUBRAT PULEV (29-2, 14 KOS)

  • When: Saturday, July 9
  • Time: 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m.. PT (main event later in show)
  • Where: O2 Arena, London
  • TV/Stream: DAZN
  • Division: Heavyweight (unlimited)
  • Rounds: 12
  • At stake: No major titles
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: None
  • Odds: Pulev 2-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
  • Also on the card: Israil Madrimov vs. Michel Soro, junior middleweights
  • Prediction: Pulev UD
  • Background: Chisora, 38, and Pulev, 41, are fighting to remain relevant heavyweights in a rematch of their 2016 bout, which Pulev won by a split decision. Chisora has lost has past three fights by decision, against Oleksandr Usyk and then two meetings with Joseph Parker last year. The last fight took place in December. The Londoner is 7-7 in his last 14 fights. He lost his only title fight, a unanimous decision against then-beltholder Vitali Klitschko in 2012. Pulev lost his only two title fights, a fifth-round knockout against Wladimir Klitschko in 2014 and a ninth-round stoppage against Anthony Joshua in 2020. He rebounded from the loss to Joshua by easily outpointing Jerry Forrest in May.

ALSO FIGHTING THIS WEEK

SATURDAY

  • Cesar Francis vs. Ray Beltran, junior welterweights, London (ProBox.TV).

SUNDAY

  • Roger Gutierrez vs. Hector Garcia, junior lightweights (for Gutierrez’s WBA title), Caracas, Venezuela (no TV in U.S.).

 

Fight Week: Mark Magsayo to make first title defense against Rey Vargas

Fight Week: Mark Magsayo will make his first title defense against Rey Vargas on Saturday in San Antonio.

FIGHT WEEK

Featherweight titleholder Mark Magsayo makes the first defense of his 126-pound title against Rey Vargas on Saturday in San Antonio. Also Saturday, in London, Derek Chisora will take on Kubrat Pulev.

MARK MAGSAYO (24-0, 16 KOS) VS. REY VARGAS (35-0, 22 KOS)

  • When: Saturday, July 9
  • Time: 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m.. PT (main event later in show)
  • Where: Alamodome, San Antonio
  • TV/Stream: Showtime
  • Division: Featherweight (unlimited)
  • Rounds: 12
  • At stake: Magsayo’s WBC title
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: None
  • Odds: Even (average of multiple outlets)
  • Also on the card: Brandon Figueroa vs. Carlos Castro, featherweights; Rashidi Ellis vs. Alberto Palmetta, welterweights
  • Prediction: Joyce KO 5
  • Background: Mark Magsayo upset Gary Russell Jr. by a majority decision to win the WBC featherweight title in January. On Saturday, the Filipino will attempt to prove that break-through victory was no fluke. The protégé of his promoter, Manny Pacquiao, is an improving boxer with elite punching power. He needed the latter against Julio Ceja in the fight that preceded his victory over Russell, as Ceja was winning on all cards when he was stopped in the 10th round. That earned Magsayo a shot at Russell, the long-reigning 126-pound champion who injured (or re-injured) his right shoulder early in the fight. The challenger did enough to win on two cards and walk away with his first major title. He figures to receive a stiff challenge from Vargas, a tall (5-foot-10½), slick boxer-puncher from Mexico. He won the WBC 122-pound title by outpointing Gavin McDonnell in 2017 and made five successful defenses before injuries forced him to step away from the sport between 2019 and last year. He returned as a 126-pounder and easily outpointed Leonardo Baez in his comeback fight, which took place in November. The oddsmakers see this as a 50-50 matchup. Also on the card, Brandon Figueroa (22-1, 17 KOs) will make his debut at 122 pounds against Carlos Castro (27-1, 12 KOs) of Mexico. He lost a disputed decision in a 118-pound title-unification bout with Stephen Fulton in November, his most-recent fight.

 

DEREK CHISORA (32-12, 23 KOS) VS. KUBRAT PULEV (29-2, 14 KOS)

  • When: Saturday, July 9
  • Time: 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m.. PT (main event later in show)
  • Where: O2 Arena, London
  • TV/Stream: DAZN
  • Division: Heavyweight (unlimited)
  • Rounds: 12
  • At stake: No major titles
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: None
  • Odds: Pulev 2-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
  • Also on the card: Israil Madrimov vs. Michel Soro, junior middleweights
  • Prediction: Pulev UD
  • Background: Chisora, 38, and Pulev, 41, are fighting to remain relevant heavyweights in a rematch of their 2016 bout, which Pulev won by a split decision. Chisora has lost has past three fights by decision, against Oleksandr Usyk and then two meetings with Joseph Parker last year. The last fight took place in December. The Londoner is 7-7 in his last 14 fights. He lost his only title fight, a unanimous decision against then-beltholder Vitali Klitschko in 2012. Pulev lost his only two title fights, a fifth-round knockout against Wladimir Klitschko in 2014 and a ninth-round stoppage against Anthony Joshua in 2020. He rebounded from the loss to Joshua by easily outpointing Jerry Forrest in May.

ALSO FIGHTING THIS WEEK

SATURDAY

  • Cesar Francis vs. Ray Beltran, junior welterweights, London (ProBox.TV).

SUNDAY

  • Roger Gutierrez vs. Hector Garcia, junior lightweights (for Gutierrez’s WBA title), Caracas, Venezuela (no TV in U.S.).

 

Rashidi Ellis thrilled that his career is back on track

Rashidi Ellis plans to take full advantage of his new opportunity with Premier Boxing Champions.

Rashidi Ellis thought he’d be a world champion by now.

The one time amateur star from a fighting family has elite boxing ability and speed but, even at 29 years old, he hasn’t had opportunities to show what he can do against the top welterweights.

That can be attributed in part to a contract dispute with former promoter Golden Boy, which has kept the brother of Ronald and Rashida Ellis out of the ring for 20 months.

However, now he has a fresh start. He left Golden Boy and in April and joined forces with Premier Boxing Champions, which is loaded with well-known potential opponents at 147 pounds.

Ellis (23-0, 14 KOs) makes his debut for PBC against Argentine Alberto Palmetta on the Mark Magsayo-Rey Vargas card July 9 in San Antonio (Showtime).

“I feel like a kid going to recess. I’ve very excited,” Ellis told Boxing Junkie.

The easygoing fighter from Lynn, Massachusetts, doesn’t dwell in the past because he has business at hand. However, he admitted that his layoff was difficult.

He could only watch as matchups he coveted – including one against unbeaten Golden Boy star Vergil Ortiz – never materialized for reasons that depend on whom you talk to. And he couldn’t leave Golden Boy until his contract expired.

So he did the only thing he could do: wait.

“It was very difficult, very frustrating,” he said. “I just had to stay focused and stay in the gym, get ready for the next one. I was always in the gym. I wouldn’t say it was a waste of time. Time did pass. It sucks. But I gotta look forward.

“This is definitely a fresh start. I finalley get to showcase my talent, to show everyone what they’ve been missing.”

Of course, if things go well against the Palmetta (17-1, 12 KOs), he’d love to jump into a fight with the winner of the anticipated showdown between Errol Spence Jr. and Terence Crawford for the undisputed championship.

Ellis is realistic, though. He’ll have to earn his stripes against a few PBC fighters – Jaron Ennis? Eimantas Stanionis? Keith Thurman? Cody Crowley? – before he finally gets a shot at a major championship.

“Hopefully I’ll get that next but I know it don’t work like that,” he said. “Two, three fights after [July 9], next year. You could say that.”

And he has a simple message for those who might wonder whether he can really fight on even terms with the champions and contenders mentioned above. He said confidently: “Just wait and see.”

[lawrence-related id=27558,31228,31221]

Rashidi Ellis thrilled that his career is back on track

Rashidi Ellis plans to take full advantage of his new opportunity with Premier Boxing Champions.

Rashidi Ellis thought he’d be a world champion by now.

The one time amateur star from a fighting family has elite boxing ability and speed but, even at 29 years old, he hasn’t had opportunities to show what he can do against the top welterweights.

That can be attributed in part to a contract dispute with former promoter Golden Boy, which has kept the brother of Ronald and Rashida Ellis out of the ring for 20 months.

However, now he has a fresh start. He left Golden Boy and in April and joined forces with Premier Boxing Champions, which is loaded with well-known potential opponents at 147 pounds.

Ellis (23-0, 14 KOs) makes his debut for PBC against Argentine Alberto Palmetta on the Mark Magsayo-Rey Vargas card July 9 in San Antonio (Showtime).

“I feel like a kid going to recess. I’ve very excited,” Ellis told Boxing Junkie.

The easygoing fighter from Lynn, Massachusetts, doesn’t dwell in the past because he has business at hand. However, he admitted that his layoff was difficult.

He could only watch as matchups he coveted – including one against unbeaten Golden Boy star Vergil Ortiz – never materialized for reasons that depend on whom you talk to. And he couldn’t leave Golden Boy until his contract expired.

So he did the only thing he could do: wait.

“It was very difficult, very frustrating,” he said. “I just had to stay focused and stay in the gym, get ready for the next one. I was always in the gym. I wouldn’t say it was a waste of time. Time did pass. It sucks. But I gotta look forward.

“This is definitely a fresh start. I finalley get to showcase my talent, to show everyone what they’ve been missing.”

Of course, if things go well against the Palmetta (17-1, 12 KOs), he’d love to jump into a fight with the winner of the anticipated showdown between Errol Spence Jr. and Terence Crawford for the undisputed championship.

Ellis is realistic, though. He’ll have to earn his stripes against a few PBC fighters – Jaron Ennis? Eimantas Stanionis? Keith Thurman? Cody Crowley? – before he finally gets a shot at a major championship.

“Hopefully I’ll get that next but I know it don’t work like that,” he said. “Two, three fights after [July 9], next year. You could say that.”

And he has a simple message for those who might wonder whether he can really fight on even terms with the champions and contenders mentioned above. He said confidently: “Just wait and see.”

[lawrence-related id=27558,31228,31221]

Rey Vargas confident he’ll become two-division titleholder on July 9

Rey Vargas is confident he’ll become a two-division titleholder against champion Mark Magsayo on July 9 in San Antonio.

Rey Vargas doesn’t like being called a former champion.

After all, no one took the unbeaten Mexican’s 122-pound title in the ring. He was out for two-plus years – in part because of a broken leg suffered on a training run – and then returned as a 126-pounder.

Vargas (35-0, 22 KOs) sees his challenge of featherweight titleholder Mark Magsayo (24-0, 16 KOs) on July 9 in San Antonio (Showtime) as a battle of champions.

“I have a right to fight for the world title,” he told Boxing Junkie through a translator. “I’m not a former champion. This is champion vs. champion, period. I definitely feel I’m where I’m supposed to be right now.”

Rey Vargas (left) gave a vintage performance against Leonardo Baez this past November.  Joe Camporeale / USA TODAY Sports

Vargas picked up where he left off at 122 in his first fight at 126, using his long jab and sharp power shots – including many to the body – to easily outpoint Leonardo Baez in November.

The victory placed him first in line to face the winner of the January fight between then-WBC titleholder Gary Russell Jr. and Magsayo, which the latter won by a majority decision.

Vargas expected the long-reigning Russell to win that fight but gives Magsayo full credit for his victory even though the now-former champion fought with an injured shoulder. As Vargas said, Magsayo “did what he had to do.”

Now Vargas has to do what he has to do.

He said he will build upon his performance against Baez, his first fight since he outpointed Tomoki Kameda in July 2019. He expects to be even better after shedding rust and fighting for the second time at his new weight.

“I do think I’ve been able to work to improve based on my previous fight,” he said. “Magsayo is a tougher opponent than my previous one. At the same time … I’m tougher than him. I know what I’m capable of when I step into the ring.”

And Magsayo’s upset of Russell might’ve been a break for Vargas, who looks forward to facing an aggressive opponent who won’t be hard to find.

Indeed, things might be falling his way after his frustrating hiatus from the sport.

“Russell is a good fighter,” he said. “He’s sneaky, more technical in a way. Magsayo is more direct. He will stand there and exchange punches with you. That’s better for me than the alternative. And it’s why I think this will be an explosive, entertaining fight.

“We’re both powerful, both not afraid to stand in there and deliver punches. Be ready for fireworks.”

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