Russell Jr and Magsayo in the test of time
Boxing writer James Blears takes a look at the Russell Jr-Magsayo clash and lists the most memorable WBC featherweight fights in history
World Boxing Council featherweight champion Gary Russell Jr (31-1, 18KOs) faces a mandatory defense of his title against challenger Mark Magsayo (23-0, 16KOs) 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 youngster Mark, leading on from the momentum of his recent KO triumph against Julio Ceja, or is the time ripe for the taking?
When you shout out “Gary" in the Russell household, you have to add the second name. Firstly, there's Dad Gary Russell Sr, who is the Trainer; then 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 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. His 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 via UD. That las win was in February 2020, which is some time ago now.
Gary stands at five feet-four and a half inches tall, with a sixty four inch reach, and resides in Capitol Heights, Maryland, and notoriously doesn't rush into fights, which explains his record, fighting just once per year, for the most part. But when he does climb into the ring, he is well prepared and sharp as a razor. 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 and advanced age caused any 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 is a protege of Manny Pacquiao and Sean Gibbons, who he signed a three year contract with in 2020. He had a 17-month hiatus, until his contract expired in 2017 with ALA Promotions, and then on to Now Boxing Promotions, before settling where he is.
Born in Tagbilaran City, Leyte, Philippines Mark lost his first three amateur fights. Unabashed, he then won most of his next 200 bouts! He was a 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 now 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 ironed 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. 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 be held at a fast paced and a lot of punches will be exchanged in what's likely to develop into an explosive exchange of fists all fight long. But with everything in life… it's all about timing.
“Mr.” GARY RUSSELL JR.
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
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 info on the WBC featherweight division:
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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