BoxerFilipinoWorld ChampionFeatherweight

Mark Magsayo

Jessel Mark Araula Magsayo is a Filipino professional boxer who formerly held the WBC featherweight title in 2022.

1. Early Life and Amateur Career

Jessel Mark Araula Magsayo was born on June 22, 1995, in Tacloban, Philippines. He developed an interest in boxing early, beginning his training at just 8 years old. His dedication quickly translated into success in the amateur ranks. By the time he transitioned to professional boxing, Magsayo had competed in approximately 200 amateur contests. He became a four-time amateur boxing champion at the annual Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP) national tournaments. During these championships, he twice earned the prestigious title of "Best Boxer," showcasing his skill and potential even at a young age.

2. Professional Career

Magsayo's professional boxing journey saw him accumulate several youth and international titles, leading him to a world championship, followed by a series of significant fights.

2.1. Early Fights and Youth Titles

Magsayo made his professional debut on May 25, 2013, against Melton Sandal, securing a first-round knockout victory. Over the next two years, he built an undefeated record of 10 wins, with no losses. His first major title opportunity came on July 11, 2015, when he faced Rafael Reyes for the vacant IBF Youth featherweight title at the Waterfront Hotel & Casino in Cebu City, Philippines. Magsayo defeated Reyes by a fifth-round technical knockout, claiming his first professional belt. On the same date, he also successfully defended his IBF Youth title against Yardley Suarez, winning by first-round knockout.

On February 27, 2016, Magsayo captured another youth title, defeating Eduardo Montoya by unanimous decision for the vacant WBO Youth featherweight title. Later that year, on April 23, 2016, he won the WBO International featherweight title by defeating Chris Avalos via a sixth-round technical knockout. He successfully defended his WBO International title three times: against Ramiro Robles on September 24, 2016, by unanimous decision; against Daniel Diaz on July 8, 2017, by a first-round technical knockout; and against Shota Hayashi on November 25, 2017, by unanimous decision. He also fought Issa Nampepeche in a non-title bout on April 29, 2017, winning by first-round knockout.

A significant change in Magsayo's career occurred after his promotional contract with the ALA group expired on May 25, 2017. He then signed with Now Boxing Promotions on June 4, 2017. In March 2020, following the closure of ALA Promotions, Magsayo signed a contract with MP Promotions, the company owned by boxing legend Manny Pacquiao.

2.2. Rise to World Title Contention

After a 17-month hiatus from the sport, Magsayo returned to the ring on April 12, 2019, defeating Erick Deztroyer by a fourth-round knockout in Singapore. His progression continued as he challenged and defeated Panya Uthok for the WBC-ABC featherweight title on August 29, 2019, winning by unanimous decision.

On October 3, 2020, Magsayo secured a split decision victory over Rigoberto Hermosillo. This was followed by a decisive win on April 10, 2021, when he defeated Pablo Cruz by a fourth-round technical knockout. These victories set the stage for a pivotal fight that would bring him closer to a world title shot.

On August 21, 2021, Magsayo faced Julio Ceja in a WBC featherweight title eliminator bout held on the undercard of the Manny Pacquiao vs. Yordenis Ugás fight. Ceja was ranked #12 by the WBC at the time. After a back-and-forth contest, Magsayo delivered a stunning tenth-round knockout, which was later recognized as the Premier Boxing Champions Knockout of the Year for 2021. This victory earned Magsayo the mandatory challenger position for the WBC featherweight title held by Gary Russell Jr..

Mark Magsayo in 2021, during the WBC featherweight title eliminator against Julio Ceja.
Mark Magsayo in 2021, during the WBC featherweight title eliminator against Julio Ceja.

2.3. WBC Featherweight Champion

Following his impressive eliminator win, the WBC officially ordered Gary Russell Jr. to defend his featherweight title against Magsayo on September 21, 2021. The championship bout was scheduled as the main event of a Showtime broadcast card at the Borgata in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on January 22, 2022.

Entering the fight as the underdog, Magsayo challenged the long-reigning Russell Jr., who had held the title for seven years. Magsayo's persistence and skill paid off, as he secured his first world title by majority decision after 12 rounds. Two judges scored the fight 115-113 in favor of Magsayo, while the third judge scored it a 114-114 draw. With this victory, Magsayo ended Russell Jr.'s formidable title reign and became the new WBC featherweight champion. Expressing his emotions after the win, Magsayo stated, "This is a dream come true. This was my dream since I was a kid, since I was an amateur. And now I'm champion. This is my dream."

2.4. Post-Championship Career

Magsayo's first title defense as the WBC featherweight champion took place on July 9, 2022, against former WBC super bantamweight champion Rey Vargas at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. In a closely contested fight, Magsayo suffered his first professional loss, falling to Vargas by a split decision (two judges scored it 112-115 for Vargas, while one had it 114-113 for Magsayo). This defeat ended Magsayo's reign as WBC featherweight champion.

On March 4, 2023, Magsayo competed for the WBC interim featherweight title against Brandon Figueroa at the Toyota Arena in Ontario, California. The interim title was established after Rey Vargas moved up to challenge for the WBC super featherweight title. Magsayo lost the fight by unanimous decision over 12 rounds. For this bout, Figueroa reportedly earned 500.00 K USD, while Magsayo received 300.00 K USD in fight money.

In May 2024, it was announced that Magsayo would face Eduardo Ramirez in a WBC super featherweight title eliminator. The WBA also sanctioned the fight for the vacant WBA Inter-Continental super featherweight title. The bout took place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Paradise, Nevada, on June 15, 2024. Magsayo won the fight by unanimous decision, improving his record and positioning himself for another world title shot in the super featherweight division.

3. Titles and Awards

Jessel Mark Araula Magsayo has accumulated several titles and received notable recognition throughout his professional boxing career:

  • IBF Youth Featherweight Title (2015)
  • WBO Youth Featherweight Title (2016)
  • WBO International Featherweight Title (2016)
  • WBC-ABC Featherweight Title (2019)
  • WBC Featherweight World Title (2022)
  • WBA Inter-Continental Super Featherweight Title (2024)
  • Awards:**
  • Premier Boxing Champions Knockout of the Year (2021) - for his knockout victory over Julio Ceja.

    • 4. Filmography

    YearFilmRole-playingOther Notes
    2017Magnifico: Lakas ng KamaoHimselfAn ABS-CBN Sports Action Documentary Film

    5. Professional Boxing Record

    no.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
    29Win27-2Bryan MercadoKO2 (6), 0:28Dec 14, 2024Thunder Studios, Long Beach, California, U.S.
    28Win26-2Eduardo RamirezUD10Jun 15, 2024MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.Won vacant WBA Inter-Continental super featherweight title
    27Win25-2Isaac AvelarKO3 (8), 1:13Dec 9, 2023Thunder Studios, Long Beach, California, U.S.
    26Loss24-2Brandon FigueroaUD12Mar 4, 2023Toyota Arena, Ontario, California, USFor WBC interim featherweight title
    25Loss24-1Rey VargasSD12Jul 9, 2022Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas, USLost WBC featherweight title
    24Win24-0Gary Russell Jr.MD12Jan 22, 2022Borgata, Atlantic City, New Jersey, USWon WBC featherweight title
    23Win23-0Julio CejaKO10 (12), 2:33Aug 21, 2021T-Mobile Arena, Paradise, Nevada, USWon WBO International featherweight title
    22Win22-0Pablo CruzTKO4 (8), 0:48Apr 10, 2021Mohegan Sun Casino, Uncasville, Connecticut, US
    21Win21-0Rigoberto HermosilloSD10Oct 3, 2020Microsoft Theater, Los Angeles, California, US
    20Win20-0Panya UthokUD12Aug 29, 2019Tagbilaran City, PhilippinesWon WBC-ABC featherweight title
    19Win19-0Erick DeztroyerKO4 (8), 2:00Apr 12, 2019The Ring Boxing Community, Singapore
    18Win18-0Shota HayashiUD12Nov 25, 2017Tagbilaran City, PhilippinesRetained WBO International featherweight title
    17Win17-0Daniel DiazTKO1 (12), 1:45Jul 8, 2017IEC Convention Center, Cebu City, PhilippinesRetained WBO International featherweight title
    16Win16-0Issa NampepecheTKO1 (10), 2:05Apr 29, 2017Waterfront Hotel & Casino, Barangay Lahug, Cebu City, Philippines
    15Win15-0Ramiro RoblesUD12Sep 24, 2016StubHub Center, Carson, California, USRetained WBO International featherweight title
    14Win14-0Chris AvalosTKO6 (12)Apr 23, 2016Cebu City Sports Complex, Cebu City, PhilippinesWon WBO International featherweight title
    13Win13-0Eduardo MontoyaUD10Feb 27, 2016Cebu City Waterfront Hotel & Casino, Barangay Lahug, Cebu City, PhilippinesWon vacant WBO Youth featherweight title
    12Win12-0Yardley SuarezKO1 (10), 2:00Jul 11, 2015StubHub Center, Carson, California, USRetained IBF Youth featherweight title
    11Win11-0Rafael ReyesTKO5 (10), 2:29Jul 11, 2015Cebu City Waterfront Hotel & Casino, Barangay Lahug, Cebu City, PhilippinesWon vacant IBF Youth featherweight title
    10Win10-0Sukpraserd PonpitakTKO5 (10), 2:19Mar 7, 2015University of SouthEastern Philippines Gym, Barrio Obrero, Davao City, Philippines
    9Win9-0Moon Sun JungTKO2 (6)Nov 15, 2014Cebu City Waterfront Hotel & Casino, Barangay Lahug, Cebu City, Philippines
    8Win8-0Jessie TuyorTKO1 (8), 1:37Aug 9, 2014Plaridel Covered Court, Plaridel, Philippines
    7Win7-0Ernesto Tata FontanillaTKO6 (6), 2:36Jul 26, 2014Island City Mall, Tagbilaran City, Philippines
    6Win6-0Hyuk Tak JooUD4May 10, 2014SM Mall of Asia Arena, Pasay, Philippines
    5Win5-0Roy SumugatTKO6 (6), 0:56Mar 1, 2014Solaire Resort Hotel and Casino, Parañaque, Philippines
    4Win4-0Hagibis QuinonesKO1 (4), 2:40Sep 26, 2013Cebu City Waterfront Hotel & Casino, Barangay Lahug, Cebu City, Philippines
    3Win3-0John Rey MelligenUD12Sep 24, 2013Escalante City Coliseum, Escalante, Philippines
    2Win2-0Jamjam UngonTKO1 (4), 1:55Jul 13, 2013Solaire Resort Hotel and Casino, Pasay, Philippines
    1Win1-0Melton SandalKO1 (1), 2:09May 25, 2013Waterfront Hotel & Casino, Barangay Lahug, Cebu City, Philippines