Filipino Mark Magsayo narrowly lost to Mexican Rey Vargas on Sunday (Manila time), leaving the Philippines without a boxing world champion.
Magsayo, who bowed for the first time after winning 24 pro fights, had the World Boxing Council featherweight belt ripped from his grasp by Vargas following a split decision loss to the taller Mexican in their 12-round encounter at Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas.
In a social media post, Magsayo apologized to all of his fans and supporters.
“Pasensya na po sa lahat at salamat sa lahat ng sumuporta, babalik tayo at pagsisikapan ko ulit. Salamat po,” Magsayo wrote.
There was nothing to apologize for, though, as Magsayo displayed the true heart and grit of a champion as he fought hard until the final bell.
Despite scoring a knockdown in the 10th round, Magsayo failed to get the win as two judges scored it 115-112, 115-112 for the taller Vargas, who overcame the 10th-round knockdown in winning his second world career crown. The third judge had it for Magsayo by a hairline, 114-113.
Vargas, now with 36-0 wins with 22 knockouts, was a former champion in the super bantamweight class before moving up to the higher featherweight division.
It was a back and forth action for both classy fighters, with Magsayo flashing his power punches and Vargas utilizing his huge advantage in height and reach.
The stronger Magsayo was hurting and doing damage with his power punches in the early rounds, even causing a cut over the left eye of Vargas in the 7th round.
But at this point, Magsayo’s endurance was beginning to show question marks as Vargas began to jab and at times change his tacks using lead hooks in give-and-take rounds.
Still, Magsayo remained dangerous, closing the distance a few times and once landed a heavy right hand to knock down Vargas. The Mexican stood up and quickly recovered. He also appeared to drop again in the 10th, but the referee waved it off.
After the close battle of the undefeated, the judges chose the Mexican, with Magsayo’s first loss leaving the Philippines without a current world boxing champion.
Last month, Nonito Donaire lost his hold on the WBC bantamweight title after suffering a brutal second-round knockout defeat to Japanese “Monster” Noaywa Inoue at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.
