Former WBC featherweight titleholder Mark Magsayo will make his junior lightweight debut on December 9, when he faces Isaac Avelar in a ten-round bout at Infinite Reality Studios in Long Beach, Calif.

For the 28-year-old Magsayo, those four extra pounds will bring added comfort after shrinking down to the 126-pound limit since his pro debut over a decade ago.

“I feel comfortable and really strong in this weight. I have been asking to move up since 2022 but great fights came versus great fighters and I didn’t want to cherry pick opponents. I wanted to fight the best and give the fights the fans want so I still took the fights at 126,” said Magsayo (24-2, 16 knockouts), who won the title in January of 2022 with a majority decision win over Gary Russell Jr. before losing back to back fights against Rey Vargas and Brandon Figueroa.

Magsayo’s weight issues became most apparent before his most recent bout in March against Figueroa, when Magsayo initially missed the 126-pound limit for their interim featherweight title fight. The boxer from Tagbilaran City, Bohol, Philippines used the full two hours allotted to come back to the scale and make the weight on his final try.

Magsayo began the fight on a strong note, but faded late as Figueroa surged to win a unanimous decision.

“I am grateful to comeback at 130 pounds. I am thankful to [promoters] Sir Sean Gibbons and Al Haymon for this opportunity. This is just the beginning for me because I’ve been fighting at 126 since I turned pro and this is the first time I’m moving up in weight. I am already drained in 126 and I lose a lot of my strength,” said Magsayo, who is promoted by MP Promotions and TGB Promotions.

Magsayo is trained by Marvin Somodio and lives in the Los Angeles County suburb of Valencia just a hour north of Long Beach, giving Magsayo’s fans an opportunity to see him fight in person.

Avelar (17-6, 10 KOs) of Aguascalientes, Mexico is a 26-year-old southpaw who has fought two former world champions, losing to Stephen Fulton (KO by 6) and Hector Garcia (unanimous decision). His biggest win came in 2020, when he outhustled the 23-0 Sakaria Lukas to a unanimous decision win on the Errol Spence Jr. vs. Danny Garcia undercard.

“I know Isaac is a great fighter and he had great fights too before. He doesn’t run a lot. He is a strong fighter. It is going to be a good fight for the fans to enjoy. We will give them a great fight to watch,” said Magsayo.

“I have a new goal of being a world champion at 130 and this is just the start of it.”