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WBC Featherweight World Champion Mark Magsayo Takes On
Unbeaten Former Champion
Rey Vargas
July 9 From The Alamodome In San
Antonio, TX
WBC Featherweight World Champion Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo
will take on former world champion Rey Vargas in a battle of
unbeatens that headlines action live on SHOWTIME Saturday,
July 9 from the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas in an event
presented by Premier Boxing Champions.
The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® telecast begins at 9 p.m.
ET/6 p.m. PT and will feature hard-hitting former world
champion Brandon “The Heartbreaker” Figueroa taking on
Carlos Castro in a WBC Featherweight Title Eliminator in the
co-main event, plus the Derrick James-trained, unbeaten
lightweight contender Frank Martin battles Panama’s
power-punching Ricardo Núñez in the 10-round telecast
opener.
“Saturday, July 9 will be topped by a showdown between
champions as the Philippines’ Mark Magsayo makes his first
title defense against the unbeaten Mexican, Rey Vargas, who
will be looking to become a two-division champion at
Alamodome on July 9 in San Antonio,” said Tom Brown,
President of TGB Promotions. “This card will also see the
return of one of the sport’s most exciting young stars, as
all-action Brandon Figueroa steps back into the ring looking
to make his mark in the featherweight division, beginning
with a world title eliminator against the always tough
Carlos Castro. Kicking off the action will be the
highly-skilled rising lightweight contender, Frank Martin,
in a tough test against the hard-hitting Ricardo Núñez.”
Additional coverage will include a pair of bouts streamed
live on the SHOWTIME SPORTS YouTube channel beginning at 7
p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT. The action will see unbeaten welterweight
contender Rashidi Ellis facing Argentine Olympian Alberto
Palmetta in a 10-round duel, plus San Antonio’s own Ramon
Cardenas battling Venezuela’s Michell Banquez in a 10-round
bantamweight attraction.
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by TGB
Promotions, are on sale now and are available through
Ticketmaster.com. The Martin vs. Núñez bout is promoted in
association with Man Down Promotions.
The Filipino sensation Magsayo (24-0, 16 KOs) fights out of
Pasig City, Metro Manila by way of Los Angeles, Calif., and
became the latest champion from the boxing-rich nation in
January when he outpointed longtime champion Gary Russell
Jr. to capture the 126-pound title on SHOWTIME. The
26-year-old earned the opportunity by knocking out former
champion Julio Ceja in the 10th round of a fight he trailed
on the scorecards in August 2021. Magsayo is trained by
Freddie Roach in Southern California and owns 12-round
decision victories over Shoto Hayashi and Ramiro Robles, in
addition to a sixth-round stoppage of former title
challenger Chris Avalos.
“I am very thankful to my team for giving me the opportunity
to defend my title in San Antonio,” said Magsayo. “I’m
excited to be fighting in the same venue where my idol Manny
Pacquiao fought Marco Antonio Barrera. That was the first
fight I ever saw and the reason I started boxing. We are
preparing for a strong Mexican fighter in Rey Vargas.
Everyone knows what the Philippines vs. Mexico boxing
rivalry brings to the ring and I’m excited to display my
talents for the boxing fans in Texas and watching around the
world.”
The former WBC 122-pound world champion, Vargas (35-0, 22
KOs), returned from a layoff due to injury to score a near
shutout decision victory over Leonardo Baez in his
featherweight debut in November 2021 on the undercard of
Canelo vs. Plant. The 31-year-old went on the road to the
U.K. to capture his title in 2017, winning a decision over
previously unbeaten Gavin McDonnell. A native of Mexico
City, Vargas made five successful defenses of his title,
defeating top contenders Oscar Negrete, Ronny Rios and Azat
Hovhannisyan. His fifth successful title defense came via
unanimous decision over former world champion Tomoki Kameda
in July 2019.
“This fight on July 9 will be a great battle against the
Filipino warrior Mark Magsayo,” said Vargas, who trains
under the tutelage of Hall of Fame trainer Ignacio “Nacho”
Beristáin. “This is going to be exciting combat from start
to finish. We know that he has great power, but we’ll be
ready to counter that, and anything else he brings to the
ring. This is going to be a magnificent fight and I can’t
wait to step in there and compete.”
The 25-year-old Figueroa (22-1-1, 17 KOs) will debut at 126
pounds after dropping a 2021 Fight of the Year contender
against Stephen Fulton Jr. in November on SHOWTIME, in which
the two champions traded blows for 12 grueling rounds,
eventually leading to what some observers thought was a
controversial majority decision loss. Figueroa used his
youth and relentless pressure to become the first person to
defeat Luis Nery in their championship clash on SHOWTIME
prior to the Fulton fight. A native of Weslaco, Texas, who
has previously fought in San Antonio six times, Figueroa
added to his family’s legacy by capturing the world title,
joining his brother Omar Figueroa, who previously held the
lightweight world championship.
“I’ve been waiting to get back in the ring to do what I
love,” said Figueroa. “Carlos Castro is a great fighter and
we both have to prove why we belong at the top of the
126-pound division. I can’t wait to fight in San Antonio in
front of my fans, it’s really one of my favorite places to
compete and I’m planning on giving everyone who comes out a
great show like always.”
Castro (27-1, 12 KOs) was born in Sonora, Mexico and came to
the U.S. as a child. Now living in Phoenix, Ariz., Castro
most recently dropped a narrow split-decision against
two-division champion Luis Nery in February, with one point
on the cards ultimately holding Castro back from keeping his
unbeaten record intact. The 28-year-old made his name as a
122-pound contender, but has also competed at featherweight,
including a 10th round TKO victory over veteran contender
Oscar Escandon in August 2021.
“I’m thrilled to be back in the ring,” said Castro. “I have
some real business to handle against Figueroa on July 9.
There’s no better fight for me to show that I’m back. I’m
ready to show that I’m capable of being in the mix at the
top of the division and to earn a shot at the title.”
The 27-year-old Martin (15-0, 11 KOs) rose up the
lightweight rankings in 2021 with a pair of impressive
victories before most recently delivering a New Year’s Day
KO over Romero Duno. In 2021, Martin knocked out the
previously unbeaten Jerry Perez in a dominating performance
in April, before earning a unanimous decision over Ryan
Kielczweski in August. Originally from Indianapolis, Ind.,
Martin now trains in the Dallas-area under the guidance of
top trainer James alongside unified welterweight champion
Errol Spence Jr.
“I’ve been training hard in Dallas and I’m just excited and
ready to go,” said Martin. “Núñez is a boxer-puncher, so I
expect him to mix it up with some fast combinations and to
try and throw my movement off, but I’ll be ready for all of
that. Fight fans are going to enjoy an action fight with
this one. We’ve got the speed, power and athleticism to put
on an exciting show on July 9.”
Representing La Chorrera, Panama, Núñez (23-3, 21 KOs)
enters this fight with knockout victories in his last two
fights, including most recently stopping Richard Solano in
the first round in October 2021. The 28-year-old moved back
up to lightweight for those two victories after challenging
three-division champion Gervonta Davis in July 2019 for a
130-pound title. Núñez has fought professionally since 2010
and has a brother also named Ricardo who is a veteran pro
fighter in the featherweight division.
“I’m very happy to be back in a big fight on July 9,” said
Núñez. “You’re going to see a whole new fighter against
Martin. I’m coming to fight and impose my style on my
opponent. Martin is a good boxer who’s made it to a high
level, but he still has to show what he’s made of. I’m going
to give one hundred percent to stop his rise and be the
first person to beat him.”
The 29-year-old Ellis (23-0, 14 KOs) returns to the ring for
the first time since October 2020, having earned a unanimous
decision over the previously unbeaten Alexis Rocha in his
last outing. Originally from Lynn, Mass., Ellis also owns a
pair of victories over veteran contender Eddie Gomez,
including a first-round knockout over Gomez in December
2016, before winning by unanimous decision in their 2019
rematch. He takes on the Buenos Aires, Argentina native
Palmetta (17-1, 12 KOs), who represented his home country at
the 2016 Olympics before turning pro in November 2016. The
32-year-old has won his last 11 fights, with 10 coming by
stoppage, including most recently defeating Yeis Solano in
October 2021.
“I’m excited to be back in the ring on July 9,” said Ellis.
“I want to thank my whole team, and I can’t wait to deliver
fireworks for everyone watching this fight. I’m looking to
steal the show and I’m training hard to make sure I do just
that. You definitely want to tune in and see what I’m going
to do in this one.”
“This fight is very special because it is the same day as
Argentinian Independence Day,” said Palmetta. “Four years
ago, I made the decision to leave my home and travel to the
United States to further my boxing career. I want to face
the biggest opponents, so I can earn the opportunity to
become a world champion. This fight against Ellis is the big
step I’ve been looking for. On July 9, get ready, because
I’m coming with hunger, hard work, and determination. It
hasn’t been easy for me; I have fought through the pain and
struggle, and because of it, I remain humble and more
motivated than ever.”
San Antonio’s Cardenas (20-1, 10 KOs) will look to run his
current winning streak to nine when he competes in front of
his hometown crowd on July 9. The 26-year-old added a pair
of victories to his resume in 2021, having most recently
stopped Marvin Solano in three rounds last August. He will
be opposed by the 31-year-old Banquez (20-1, 14 KOs), who is
originally from Venezuela and now fights out of Fort
Lauderdale, Fla.. Banquez had a successful U.S. debut in
January, as he stopped the previously unbeaten Joahnys
Argilagos in six rounds, building off of a 12-round decision
over the previously unbeaten Prince Patel in July 2019.
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