Mark Magsayo Expected To Be Ordered New Opponent By WBC

Rey Vargas has a goal in mind.

On Tuesday, Vargas revealed that goal during the WBC’s weekly “Coffee Tuesdays” online meeting. Vargas (35-0, 22 KOs) wants to be next for new WBC featherweight champion Mark Magsayo (24-0, 16 KOs), and the WBC is expected to agree and make this wish a reality.

“Having such a long (layoff due to) injury, then Covid, thank God I’m back,” Vargas said during his guest appearance.

“I can’t ask for anything more. Going straight for the title (versus Magsayo) makes me feel very, very happy.”

Magsayo ended Gary Russell Jr.’s nearly seven-year reign as the WBC featherweight champion Saturday night in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Magsayo secured a majority decision victory after going all 12 rounds in the SHOWTIME pay-per-view headliner event.

Russell thought he should’ve won. His reign as a world champion was the longest in boxing history.

Similar to how Magsayo called for a title shot after he defeated Julio Ceja in August, Vargas is calling for the same thing.

Vargas, of Mexico, had moved up in weight after holding onto the WBC junior featherweight title from 2017 to 2020. A broken leg injury and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic hindered his plans.

He returned after a nearly two-year layoff in November and defeated Leonardo Baez via unanimous decision, which was featured on the undercard of Canelo Alvarez’s historic unification fight against Caleb Plant.

“Mark Magsayo is a bigger fighter (than Russell), but he’s smarter more so than just (relying on) power,” Vargas added. “Magsayo is very smart in the ring.”