Mark Magsayo

Jessel Mark Araula Magsayo, better known as "Wildcard's Boxing" Mark Magsayo, was born on June 22, 1995, in Tagbilaran City, Bohol, Philippines. He began boxing at the tender age of 8 years old to support his family financially. He has participated in around 200 amateur contests and was a four-time national amateur boxing champion at the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines event (ABAP). He won the Outstanding Boxer award twice out of the four times he attended the event. Magsayo made his professional debut in May 2023 against Melton Sandal, winning by KO. His first major step toward becoming a full world champion was on fellow Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao's card against Yordenis Ugás and Julio Ceja, winning by a late stoppage, which was named the Premier Boxing Champions Knockout of the Year in 2021. Magsayo later ended Gary Russell's seven-year title reign and became the new WBC featherweight champion. However, he lost his first defense to Mexican superstar Rey Vargas in June 2022 but continues to gain an international following outside the Philippines, much like Manny Pacquiao himself.

Magsayo's spring-like legs allow him to execute explosive combinations and lunging jabs to land damaging shots on his opponents while evading their strikes. His sturdy legs enable him to tuck under hooks and utilize their momentum to avoid the hook, converting kinetic energy into powerful counterstrikes. He is adept at using slips to convert energy into explosive counter punches, often covering the ground and landing a classic Magsayo left hook, reminiscent of Manny Pacquiao's style. He is known for throwing big overhand rights once in range of his opponents, often following with a three-punch combination, including another overhand right. He maintains a high guard that complements his graceful yet explosive side-to-side movements, allowing him to counterpunch or stay on the offensive as he marches down his opponents.

In the clinch, he frequently lands powerful body shots as the clinch exchange breaks away, using a powerful lead hook to force his opponent to fight backward. His ability to set up opponents and make them commit mistakes allows him to unleash a good four-punch combination, as seen in his bout against Ray Vargas. Despite his loss, he is very hard to predict, especially when he has a wide range of power-packed combinations to throw. It's important to note that Magsayo is a technical wizard, and many of his standout traits result from his genetics and training by some of the best trainers in the world. His athleticism, extreme speed, and jaw-shattering power make him one of the most entertaining fighters to watch. If he blocks one shot, especially on the ropes, he is known to counter effectively, such as landing a right uppercut that sends his opponent stumbling backward or even securing a one-hit knockout power to sway the fight in his favor.