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Boxing

Mark Magsayo aiming to become undisputed featherweight, then to move up weight classes

Alexander Netherton
Mark Magsayo aiming to become undisputed featherweight, then to move up weight classesDAZN
The new champion sees no problem with staying in the division to clean up.

New WBC featherweight champion Mark Magsayo dismissed Gary Russell Jr.’s claim he won their bout and said he would consider moving up the divisions after unification bouts.

The Filipino fighter scored an upset against the American fighter, with Russell claiming that he won the fight, and also blaming a shoulder injury that he said he was suffering from before the event.

However Magsayo gave those excuses short shrift.

“For the first three, he was using his hands, and I hurt him in the fourth round and grabbed the opportunity to follow through,” he told the DAZN Boxing Show.

“It depends, I won the fight, a threw a lot of punches, a clear punch,” he said of the chance of a rematch.

“In the first three words, he was good, fast and strong, and the fourth round he stopped using the right hand, an advantage for me.

“I don’t care, whatever he says. I won the belt and the fight. If he stuck around, he’s going to get knocked out.”

Asked who he could fight next, he namechecked Leo Santa Cruz, the WBA champion, and said he would be aiming to unify the division.

“I can fight anyone else now, of my division, because I'm the champ. There’s Santa Cruz. I wanted to fight him before, I’m going to watch his fight in Vegas,” he said.

“In featherweight, it’s an easy weight - I have a good nutritionist. I ate before I weighed. I’m good, maybe two or three defences then move up. If I’m lucky, to get undisputed.”

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