Mark Magsayo vs. Rey Vargas Betting: Will Magsayo prove he is the future of Filipino boxing?

Fight fans are in for a treat this weekend as Mark Magsayo faces Rey Vargas at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas with the WBC world featherweight title on the line.

This is a chance for one fighter to leave the arena in possession of one of the sport’s most respected titles, paving the way for more big nights and riches this year.

Magsayo is the current WBC champion, having won the belt from Gary Allen Russell Jr in Atlantic City last time out, and he’s the favourite with all major online betting apps to successfully defend the strap.

To achieve that and retain the title he worked hard to earn, the champion must see off a dangerous Mexican with a 35-fight winning record. Vargas is seen as one of the hottest properties in boxing, and he returns to the United States desperate to show why.

Mark Magsayo vs. Rey Vargas Fight Information & Betting Odds

Fight Information

• Mark Magsayo is the current WBC champion, having won the belt in his previous outing with a points victory over Gary Allen Russell Jnr.
• Rey Vargas is unbeaten as a paid fighter with 35 wins from as many bouts and 22 of those wins coming by knockout or stoppage.
• Mark Magsayo brings a perfect professional record detailing 24 wins from the same number of fights, with 16 coming inside the distance.
• Venue & Location: Alamodome (San Antonio, Texas)
• Start Time: approximately 11:00 p.m. Eastern Time (10:00 p.m. local time)

Mark Magsayo vs. Rey Vargas Odds

Odds are from BetOnline.

Moneyline (3-Way)

• Mark Magsayo -115
• Draw +1800
• Rey Vargas -115

Will the Fight Go the Distance?

• Yes -235
• No +180

Big things expected of Magnifico

It is perhaps a little predictable, and the comparison has been well used when any exciting fighter comes out of the Philippines, but many in the know have compared Magsayo to a young Manny Pacquiao.

That’s not just because the pair share a nationality and a love for boxing; it’s also because the 27-year-old dubbed Magnifico possesses fast hands, excellent footwork and a desire to win.

Magsayo boasts a 24-0-0 record with 16 KO wins already on his card, and he’s clambered to number one in his home country and number two in the world at featherweight, sitting behind Emmanuel Navarrete.

The Filipino puncher knows only a convincing victory in San Antonio on Saturday would keep alive his hopes of a crack at unifying the titles, so there’s more at stake here than the result and the short-term future of the belt.

Last five results for Mark Magsayo

• Gary Russell Jr.: won by majority decision
• Julio Ceja: won via knockout in the tenth round
• Pablo Cruz: won via TKO in the fourth round
• Rigoberto Hermosillo: won by split decision
• Panya Uthok: won by unanimous decision

Mexican warrior arrives unbeaten

This is a world title bout that has got fans talking, and it’s likely we could see the future star of the division come from this bout.

The featherweight category in the United States and worldwide hasn’t been as competitive and open as it is today for many years, and followers can’t wait to see what happens next as the best fight the best.

Rey Vargas is something that will give any champion at any weight division nightmares – an unbeaten Mexican who has been written off but comes to the United States with the talent and ambition to upset the odds.

Mexico has churned out some of the most famous boxing champions over the years, and Vargas wants to sit amongst that company, with his recent form suggesting he’s already well on his way to achieving that.

Last five results for Rey Vargas

• Leonardo Baez: won by unanimous decision
• Tomoki Kameda: won by unanimous decision
• Franklin Manzanilla: won by unanimous decision
• Azat Hovhannisyan: won by unanimous decision
• Oscar Negrete: won by unanimous decision

Magnifico the best bet to bag the win

Mark Magsayo shot to stardom with a career-best win in his last fight, defeating Russell Jr in Atlantic City at the Borgata Hotel and Casino.

That bout went all 12 rounds, testing the scoring judges who weren’t unanimous in their decision but did see the Filipino as the winner, with two judges giving him the victory and one opting for a draw.

That was the biggest fight of Magnifico’s career, but followers were impressed by how he stepped up to the plate and raised his game to defeat an opponent unwilling to surrender the championship belt without a struggle.

Two judges gave it to Mark by scores of 115-113, and that margin reflects just how competitive the contest was, with followers guessing until the final decision was made.

That win over Russell was Magsayo’s third points win in five bouts, with the other two in that period settled as a 10-round stoppage win over Julio Ceja and the fourth-round stoppage of Pablo Cruz, who had already lost three times going into that bout and was expected to come up short again.

The form of the champion and the likely competitiveness of the bout mean that there is good value in supporting Magsayo to win on points.

Mark Magsayo vs. Rey Vargas Betting Tip: Magsayo to win via points or decision (+190 at BetOnline)