Magsayo calls out Santa Cruz

MANILA, Philippines — WBC featherweight champion Mark Magsayo called out super WBA titlist Leo Santa Cruz the other day to face off in a unification showdown but said he’ll fulfill an obligation for a mandatory defense before engaging the Mexican. MP Promotions head Sean Gibbons said Santa Cruz is the ultimate prize, adding that the fight could happen at the Staples Center in Los Angeles late this year.

Magsayo was supposed to meet WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman in Mexico City last Feb. 8 to receive a personalized title belt. However, there were visa issues to travel to Mexico and Sulaiman sent a representative instead to deliver the belt to Magsayo in Las Vegas. Gibbons said it appears that the WBC will order an immediate defense against No. 1 contender Rey Vargas of Mexico.

“Vargas was the mandatory contender for two years but he got hurt, wasn’t ready and we jumped in front of him to fight (Gary) Russell,” said Gibbons. “No step-aside fee was paid but it looks like Vargas will be Mark’s first challenger. I have no worries that Mark knocks out Vargas then we’ll go for Santa Cruz and that fight will be huge.”

GAB chairman Baham Mitra reached out to Sulaiman for a reprieve from the mandatory defense. “Mauricio confirmed there was a step-aside agreement,” he said. “I argued that we should have a choice whom to fight before mandatory but they had an agreement. Vargas agreed to step aside provided he fights the Magsayo-Russell winner.”

Magsayo plans to return home within the month but will train for his first defense with coach Freddie Roach at the Wild Card Gym in LA. “Even I’m going home, I’ll train hard, won’t get fat, keep my weight,” he said. “I’m more determined to fight, more hungry. After my mandatory defense, I’ll unify. Leo, let’s fight.”

Magsayo said he couldn’t have won the title without his team. “I appreciate coach Freddie a lot,” he said. “We prepared almost four months for Russell, hired four sparmates who fight like Russell. I had a perfect team, coach Freddie, coach Marvin (Somodio), my nutritionist (Jeaneth Aro), my wife (Frances).” He credited his first promoter Tony Aldeguer of Cebu for introducing his nickname Magnifico. “It’s like triple M, Mark Magnifico Magsayo,” he said with a smile.

Roach said Magsayo beat the best of the Russell brothers. “He deserved to win and fought a great fight,” said Roach. “For his first defense, any one of the contenders can step up and let’s go.” Magsayo recently visited Roach at the Wild Card Gym to present the newly-created WBC Trainer’s belt which is given to a coach whenever he or she guides a fighter to the throne. It was a surprise for Roach. Magsayo said now they each hold a WBC strap because “our heart is gold and our blood is green,” referring to the WBC belt colors.