IN HIS road to a second weight division world title shot, former featherweight world champion Mark Magsayo locks horns with Mexican Jorge Mata for the vacant World Boxing Council (WBC) Continental Americas super featherweight strap as one of the featured fights of the Manny Pacquiao vs. Mario Barrios clash today, July 20, 2025 (PH time), at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
A world title shot is well within Magsayo’s reach. But he has to get through Mata first if he wants to earn a world title opportunity.
The 30-year-old Magsayo is currently rated No. 2 by the WBC and No. 3 by the World Boxing Organization (WBO). O’Shaquie Foster currently holds the WBC belt, while Emanuel Navarrete is the WBO titleholder.
After permanently moving to the US in 2020, Magsayo, a native of Bohol, finally earned his world title shot in 2022. He scored a majority decision upset of Gary Russell Jr. to win the WBC featherweight diadem. His reign, however, was short-lived and immediately lost his belt in his first title defense against Rey Vargas.
The following year, Magsayo faced Brandon Figueroa for the interim WBC featherweight belt but lost by unanimous decision. He decided to move up in weight and won three straight fights, with wins over Isaac Avelar, Eduardo Ramirez, and Bryan Mercado.
Meanwhile, Mata, rated No. 32 by the WBC, is an up-and-coming 24-year-old Mexican fighter. He’s currently on a five-fight winning streak.
Mata’s two defeats are from the hands of former world title contender Eduardo Hernandez and undefeated prospect Jose Luis Vazquez.
Both Magsayo and Mata tipped the scales at 129 pounds in yesterday’s weigh-in.
Magsayo is 27-2 with 18 knockouts, while Mata is 21-2-2 with 13 knockouts.
Olympic bronze medalist Eumir Marcial is the other Pinoy warrior seeing action in the Pacquiao vs. Barrios undercard.
Marcial (5-0, 3 KOs) is up against American Bernard Joseph (11-2-1, 5 KOs) in an eight-rounder. / EKA