After 13 years as a professional boxer, Mark Magsayo is preparing for his next phase of his career with Zuffa Boxing.
The 30-year-old Filipino fan favorite signed with the upstart Las Vegas-based promotion, BoxingScene reported on Sunday, making “Magnifico” Magsayo one of the first former world champions to join the promotion.
Magsayo, who now lives in the Las Vegas suburb of Henderson, fought just once last year, shutting out Jorge Mata on the Mario Barrios vs. Manny Pacquiao undercard, but now gets to stand on his own, with the promotion promising at least three fights per year. The first fight will take place on April 5 against an opponent to be named.
“You know I have been in camp since after my fight in July, because I was supposed to fight in October, December, January and then February but everything got moved. I’m always ready and hungry, especially feeling this good at lightweight,” Magsayo, 28-2 (18 KOs), told BoxingScene after attending Sunday’s Zuffa Boxing event. “I can’t wait.”
Magsayo, a native of Tagbilaran City, Bohol, Philippines who began his career at 126 pounds as a 17-year-old, and then won the WBC featherweight title from Gary Russell Jnr in 2022, had struggled mightily to make that weight for a decade, and still had to sacrifice to make the 130lbs limit, where he rose to become the No. 1 contender with the WBC. He elected to bypass an oft-postponed elimination bout against Michael Magnesi and move up to 135lbs, where he believes he’ll be able to perform at his best without feeling weakened by making weight.
“I’ve been planning to move up to 135 for more than a year now but I was number one at 130 so I waited and waited for the title shot,” said Magsayo, who won four straight at junior lightweight.
“But while waiting my body is growing, so now I feel great and my team does, too, and we all agree that I really have to move up now to be able to show what I can really do in the ring.”
Other than his new promoter, Magsayo’s team remains consistent. Magsayo continues to train at the Wild Card Boxing Club under Marvin Somodio, who also trains Zuffa boxers Callum Walsh and Umar Dzambekov, and is advised by Sean Gibbons.
Now under Zuffa Boxing, the company founded by UFC President Dana White that runs shows on the streaming platform Paramount+, Magsayo is eager to establish himself as one of the breakout stars of the new promotion.
“My goal is to headline a show and make a great night of boxing for the fans who are following Zuffa Boxing,” said Magsayo. “I have been there [to the top of the sport] and I know I can give a good show for the boxing fans and everybody who comes to watch.”
