Manny Pacquiao Thanks Mark Magsayo For Bringing Honor To The Philippines

Many praised and congratulated Mark Magsayo for his victory on Saturday against Gary Russell Jr.

And of those to acknowledge his most significant win to date was retired former eight-division champion Manny Pacquiao.

“Congratulations, Mark Magsayo on your first world championship,” Pacquiao tweeted.

“Thank you for bringing honor to our country by becoming the latest Filipino world boxing champion. Welcome to the club.”

Magsayo (24-0, 16 KOs) — who is promoted by MP Promotions — scored the majority decision win over Russell (33-2, 18 KOs), who reigned as the WBC featherweight champion for eight years, which was the longest active reign among male boxers.

Magsayo won with scorecards 114-114, 115-113 and 115-113. He became the fifth Filipino boxer to currently hold a major title.

The other four Filipino boxers include IBF junior bantamweight titlist Jerwin Ancajas, WBC bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire, three-division and WBO bantamweight champion John Riel Casimero and IBF strawweight titleholder Rene Mark Cuarto.

Magsayo became Russell’s mandatory challenger after earning the spot with his brutal knockout victory versus Julio Ceja in August on the undercard of Yordenis Ugas vs Manny Pacquiao.

After Saturday’s fight, Russell, however, thought he had won. He noted he might have a torn tendon in his right shoulder and blames that he hadn’t competed in almost two years.

He’s calling for a rematch.