By Ken Hissner: At the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, Saturday, over Showtime, TGB Promotions and Premier Boxing Champions presented in the Main Event WBC World Featherweight champion Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo of the Philippines lost a split decision to former WBC World Super Bantamweight champion Rey Vargas of Mexico over 12 rounds overcoming a knockdown.
In the Main Event, WBC World Featherweight champion Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo, 24-1 (16), #125 ½, of Rizal, Metro Manila, PH, and L.A., CA, lost a split decision to former WBC World Super Bantamweight champion Rey Vargas, 36-0 (22), #125 ½, of Otumba, Mexico, over 12 rounds.
In the first round, both fighters landed right hands from the start. Magsayo ended the round strong enough to take the round with left hooks to the chin of Vargas. In the second round, both came out throwing left hooks. Magsayo landed the final punch a right to the chin of Vargas.
In the third round, Vargas had a good round, landing left hooks to the chin of Magsayo for the most part. In the fourth round, both had their moments, with Vargas evening the score at the end of the round using his reach with his jab. In the fifth round, Vargas did well with his rights over his jab, but Magsayo ended the round well with a solid left hook to the chin of Vargas.
In the sixth round, at the halfway point, Vargas landed solid left hooks to the body of Magsayo. He had Magsayo missing more than connecting. In the seventh round, Vargas was cut on the left eyebrow by a clash of heads in the first minute of the round. The left hooks of Vargas continue to dominate the round.
In the eighth round, Vargas continued outworking Magsayo for the most part, except for a right to the chin late in the round. In the ninth round final thirty seconds, Magsayo landed a straight right on the chin, dropping Vargas for an 8-count from Referee Jon Schorle. Magsayo rushed him and almost ended through the ropes as Vargas stepped aside and managed to get through the round.
In the tenth round, Magsayo continued getting the better of Vargas, whose head was still not clear since the knockdown. Magsayo ended the round with a right to the chin of Vargas. In the eleventh round, Vargas came back well since the knockdown with a counter left hook to the chin of Magsayo in the final minute.
In the twelfth and final round, Magsayo needing a possible knockout is throwing counter rights but missing as many as landing but having Vargas on the run.
Scores were Cheatham 115-112 Vargas, Reyes 114-113 Magsayo, and Sutherland 115-112 for Vargas, with this writer 114-113 Vargas.
In the co-feature, former WBC and WBA World Super Bantamweight champ Brandon “Heartbreaker” Figueroa, 23-1-1 (18), #126, of Weslaco, TX, stopped Mexico’s Carlos Castro, 27-2 (12), #124 ½, out of Fullerton, CA, at 2:11 of the sixth round of a scheduled 12 rounds.
In the first round, Figueroa went from orthodox to southpaw, taking a close round over Castro primarily using an effective jab. In the second round, Castro landed right uppercuts to the body of Figueroa halfway through the round. In the final thirty seconds of the round, Castro landed a double right uppercut to the chin of Figueroa. At the end of the round, it was Figueroa having Castro against the ropes with a flurry of punches continuing going from orthodox to southpaw.
In the third, halfway through the round, Figueroa had Castro against the ropes landing an overhand left from southpaw, dropping him for an 8-count from Referee Mark Nelson. Upon getting up, Castro was stormed by Figueroa, landing over two dozen punches while having him against the ropes with referee Nelson taking a close look allowing Castro to land several rights at the bell.
In the fourth round, Castro came out fighting back though being backed up by Figueroa against the ropes. Castro’s right would land, working him off the ropes. In the fifth round, Figueroa continued coming forward, getting the better of it until the midway point, with Castro coming back with body shots from his right uppercuts doing enough to take the round.
In the sixth round, Castro continues using the ring, countering Figueroa. For the first time in the fight, Castro had Figueroa against the ropes. Suddenly Figueroa spun off the ropes having Castro on the ropes with fifteen unanswered punches with referee Nelson stopped the fight.
In the opening bout, super lightweight southpaw Frank “The Ghost” Martin, 16-0 (12), #137 ½, of Dallas, TX, stopped Jackson “El Fenix” Marinez, 19-3 (7), #138, of Santo Domingo, DR, at 0:30 of the tenth and final round.
In the first round, Martin boxed well while Marinez coming in as a late sub and off a knockout loss, held his own. In the second round, at the end of the first minute, southpaw Martin staggered Marinez with a left to the chin. A minute left in the round, Martin landed a double left to the chin of Marinez.
At the halfway point, Martin landed a glancing left followed by a right hook to the chin of Marinez. The taller Marinez landed several lead rights on the chin in the final thirty seconds of the round. In the third round, Marinez landed a chopping right on the chin of Martin in the first minute. With a minute left, Martin landed a lead left, followed by a right on the chin of Marinez. In the final thirty seconds, Martin landed a combination, stepped back, and fired a left to the chin of Marinez.
In the fourth round raced to Marinez using an effective jab followed by a left to the chin of Marinez. In the final minute of the round, Marinez came off the ropes landing a chopping right on the chin of Martin. In the last seconds of the round, a Martin jab fell short, but a following left didn’t land on the chin of Marinez.
In the fifth round, Marinez did well for the first half of the round, landing chopping rights to the chin of Martin and an occasional left hook. In the final ten seconds, Martin landed a lead left followed by a right on the chin of Marinez.
In the sixth round, near the end of the first minute, Marinez landed a solid right on the chin of Martin. In the final minute, Marinez landed several lead rights on the chin of Martin. In the seventh round, the fight heated up with Martin starting firing power punches and Marinez returning fire, with Martin getting the best of it. In the final minute of the round, Martin landed a good combination to the chin of Marinez. In the last ten seconds, Martin landed a power punch to the chin of Marinez.
In the eighth round, after ten seconds, Martin drove Marinez into the ropes with a solid left on the chin. Halfway through the round, Martin countered a Marinez miss with a left on the chin. In the ninth round, final minute Martin landed five unanswered punches. In the last twenty seconds, Martin hurt Marinez with a right hook on the chin, driving him into a corner, then landing five unanswered punches to the chin, dropping him for an 8-count by Referee Rafael Ramos as the bell sounded.
In the tenth and final round, Martin went right after Marinez having him against the ropes; he doubled with a right hook to the chin and a left to the body, and a double right hook on the chin, dropping Marinez for the second time in the fight causing referee Ramos to wave it off without a count.
This writer had it 7-2 in rounds for Martin after nine rounds. He is managed by WBA, WBC, and IBF welterweight champion Errol “The Truth” Spence, Jr. and trained by Derrick James.
Ring Announcer Jimmy Lennon, Jr.