Brandon Figueroa vs. Mark Magsayo.Photo by: Esther Lin/Showtime
Mark Magsayo, a former WBC featherweight titleholder, will be making his debut in the junior lightweight division when he faces Isaac Abelard on December 9th at Infinite Reality Studios in Long Beach, California.
Moving up to the 130-pound weight class will provide Magsayo with added comfort after years of cutting down to the 126-pound limit since turning professional over a decade ago.
Magsayo expressed his feeling of strength and comfort at this weight, emphasizing that he has been seeking this transition since 2022 but didn’t want to selectively choose his opponents, opting to provide the fights that fans desired. He secured the featherweight title with a majority decision win over Gary Russell in January 2022 but then faced back-to-back fights against Rey Vargas and Brandon Figueroa before his loss.
Before his most recent fight against Figueroa in March, Magsayo faced weight issues and initially missed the interim featherweight title match at the 126-pound limit. However, he managed to weigh in within the allocated time and proceeded to fight, ultimately losing to Figueroa via a unanimous decision.
Expressing his gratitude for the move up to 130 pounds, Magsayo credited promoters Sean Gibbons and Al Haymon. This transition marks a significant change for Magsayo, who has fought at 126 pounds since the start of his professional career. Coached by Marvin Somodio and residing in the Los Angeles County suburb of Valencia, Magsayo looks forward to giving his fans the opportunity to watch him compete in person.
Isaac Avelar, Magsayo’s upcoming opponent, holds a record of 17-6 with 10 knockouts. A 26-year-old southpaw from Aguascalientes, Mexico, Avelar has faced two former world champions, experiencing defeats against Stephen Fulton and Hector Garcia. His most significant victory came in 2020 when he secured a unanimous decision win against Sakaria Lucas, who held a 23-0 record, on the undercard of the Errol Spence Jr. vs. Danny Garcia fight.
Anticipating his match against Avelar, Magsayo acknowledged Avelar’s capabilities and expressed confidence in delivering an exciting and competitive fight for fans. He also shared his new goal of reaching the world champion status at 130 pounds, viewing this move as a new beginning in his career.
