Mark Magsayo feels strong after first junior lightweight weigh-in
Once again there was drama at a Mark Magsayo weigh-in, but this time it wasn’t him who was having trouble.
The former WBC featherweight titleholder came in at 130.7 pounds on Friday afternoon, just under the 131-pound contract weight for his eight-round bout on Saturday night with Isaac Avelar, who came in at 132.4 pounds. A deal was struck to proceed with the fight, with the weight being raised to 133 pounds.
“I feel great and strong and more comfortable at this weight. I’ve been fighting at featherweight for ten years and this is my first time at 130. I’m stronger today,” said Magsayo, who is promoted by MP Promotions and TGB Promotions.
The fight will be the first for Magsayo (24-2, 16 knockouts) since back-to-back losses to Rey Vargas and Brandon Figueroa. The 28-year-old Magsayo was excited to move up in weight after competing at featherweight since his pro debut ten years ago.
Magsayo’s battle with the scale came to a head in his most recent fight with Figueroa, when he initially missed the 126-pound limit before coming back to the scales nearly two hours later for their WBC interim title fight, which Figueroa won by unanimous decision.
Avelar Avelar (17-6, 10 KOs) of Aguascalientes, Mexico has lost four of his last five, including an eighth round TKO loss to Carlos Arteaga in his last bout in April.
The fight will take place at Thunder Studios in Long Beach, Calif. on a card promoted by Alex Camponovo. The televised fights will be broadcast live in Spanish on Fox Deportes, with the rest of the card, including Magsayo-Avelar, to stream live on www.fightstars.network.
In the main event, Brandon Benitez (20-2, 8 KOs) of Queretaro, Mexico will face Rigoberto Hermosillo (14-4-1, 9 KOs) in a ten-round featherweight bout. Benitez weighed 125.3 pounds while Hermosillo came in at 125.9 pounds. Benitez-Hermosillo will be part of the Fox Deportes broadcast, along with three other bouts.
The 25-year-old “Leoncito” Benitez is riding a six-fight winning streak while Hermosillo of Guadalajara, Mexico has won three straight since a losing streak which included a split decision loss to Magsayo.
Other weights
Adelaida Ruiz 115.3 vs Mayela Perez 115.9*
George Acosta 130.9 vs Richard Medina 131.4*
Adrian Corona 134.7 vs Erick Benitez Garcia 134.4*
Mario Hernandez 117.4 vs Adrian Alavarado 118
Anthony Cuba 134.9 vs Angel Barrera 135
Nelson Guerrero 121.3 vs Arturo Herrera 122
Lienard Sarcon 124.5 vs Frank Gonzalez 123.2
*Fight will be shown on Fox Deportes broadcast