Mexican Vargas, next mandatory challenger para kay Magsayo

ni Gerard Arce - @Sports | January 27, 2022

Kakapanalo pa lang ng WBC featherweight title ni undefeated Filipino Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo kontra kay American Gary Russel Jr., may nakalinya agad mandatory challenger sa katauhan ni unbeaten Mexican contender at dating super-bantamweight kingpin Rey Vargas.

Inanunsyo ni WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman na opisyal na makakatapat ng 26-anyos mula Tagbilaran, Bohol ang 31-anyos mula Otumba, Mexico na may kartadang 35-0 at 22 knockouts. Sa isang tradisyunal na pulong sa local media, ipinahatid na lamang ng 52-anyos na Mexican businessman at sports administrator kay Victor Silva, ang mensahe kay Vargas.

Parehong dumalo sina Vargas at Magsayo sa ulong, gayundin ang legendary Mexican coach ni Vargas na si Nacho Beristain.

Nagpahayag si Vargas na malamang siya ang mandatory challenger bago pa lamang maglaban sina Magsayo at Russel Jr sa ginanap na WBC annual convention nung Nobyembre sa Mexico City.

“We are the mandatory challenger, Mr. Sulaiman has just confirmed it. We knew we were going straight to the title, we just waited to find out who would win that fight between Russell and Magsayo and since Magsayo is the new champion, then we are going against him,” wika ni Vargas sa panayam ng ESTO Diario de los Deportistas.

“[The title shot] comes to me at an excellent time, during a great period of my life, with greater maturity, now I enjoy things more, I commit myself more, I have always been a perfectionist, but now I'm even more so... all of this has taken me to where I am and the goal is to be a new world champion.”

Huling beses sumabak si Vargas laban kay Leonardo Baez at nagresulta sa 10-round unanimous decision noong Nob. 6, 2021, matapos ang mahigit dalawang taong walang laban ng bitawan ang WBC 122-pound. Naagaw ni Magsayo ang titulo sa bisa ng majority decision laban sa injured na si Russel, na hawak ang titulo sa 7 taon sa New Jersey.