Magsayo's huge KO of Isaac Avelar put him back on track for some gold.
Not too long ago, Mark Magsayo lost a golden opportunity to fight for the WBC featherweight title, dropping a unanimous decision—117-109, 117-109, and 118-108—loss to Mexico’s Brandon Figueroa. It was the fight after Magnifico lost the same strap to another Mexican, Rey Vargas, and it sent the Filipino to back-to-back defeats.
Now, Magsayo can start thinking of another title shot after dismantling yet another Mexican, Isaac Avelar, whom he kayoed cold in the third round of their junior lightweight clash on Sunday.
And, in fact, a title shot is what Magsayo has in mind now—but not before figuring in a title eliminator.
“We’re planning to fight eliminator first, then world title,” Magsayo told Dyan Castillejo in the latest episode of PlayitrightTV, when asked what his immediate plans were.
Magsayo’s trainer, former Freddie Roach assistant Marvin Somodio, shares his ward’s vision and believes he is ready for all the smoke at 130.
“Ready na si Mark,” Somodio deadpanned. “Baka may opportunity na world championship kaagad, ite-take namin. Sa tingin ko, nararamdaman ko ready na siya. Pero bago natin makuha ‘yung spot, kelangan natin lumaban ng world title eliminator para wala silang masabi.”
Of course, Somodio knows what Magsayo needs at this point: an opportunity.
“Lahat ng world champion… ready si Mark. Apat ‘yung world champion sa 130, kahit sino sa kanila ready si Mark. Ang importante mabigyan tayo ng opportunity,” he added.
There is no telling, though, when that opportunity will come for Magsayo, especially since he is ranked no. 7 only by the WBC and is unranked by the IBF, WBO, and WBA. He is, after all, a newcomer in the junior lightweight division, which means he will likely have to wait his turn—and rack up a few more impressive wins—before he even gets a sniff of a title eliminator.
But, at the very least, it looks like Magsayo is ready for whatever comes next.