Mark Magsayo of the Philippines suffered his first boxing career loss, relinquishing the WBC featherweight title to Mexican pug Rey Vargas via split decision on Saturday night (Sunday morning in Manila) at the Alamodome in San Antonio Texas.
Judges Tim Cheatham and David Sutherland had it 115-1112 for Vargas while, judge Jesse Reyes had it 114-113 for Magsayo.
The 27-year-old Magsayo knocked down Vargas with a right hand in the ninth round but was unable to finish off Vargas.
It was the first boxing career loss for the native of Bohol who won the title from Gary Russell Jr. on Jan. 2, 2022.
As for the taller Vargas, the win allowed him to become a world champion in a second weight class. – bny
