World Boxing Champions Promotions
Don’t be misled by the lopsided scorecard in his favor—Mark Magsayo was pushed to the absolute limit on Saturday night. The unbeaten featherweight contender from the Philippines had to dig deep and rally late to edge Mexico’s rugged Rigoberto Hermosillo by split decision in the FS1 main event at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.
As has often been the case during the pandemic era—particularly in California—judging once again became a major talking point. Judge Rudy Barragan submitted a baffling and indefensible 100–90 scorecard for Magsayo, his second poor performance of the evening. Dr. Lou Moret saw the bout 96–94 for Hermosillo, while Zachary Young scored it 96–94 for Magsayo, producing the split verdict.
Magsayo’s blistering hand speed stood out early in a fast-paced opening round. Hermosillo, however, made it clear he had come to fight, snapping left hands behind a busy jab and demanding respect from the unbeaten Filipino. Magsayo produced the round’s most significant moment late, drilling Hermosillo with a right hand that momentarily rocked him.
A cut opened outside Hermosillo’s right eyebrow heading into the second round, but the Los Angeles-based Guadalajara native showed no signs of discouragement. He continued to trade willingly as Magsayo stayed sharp with his right hand. A brief clash of heads slowed the action momentarily, after which Hermosillo resumed landing left hands.
While Magsayo landed the cleaner punches in rounds three and four, Hermosillo’s relentless activity kept the fight razor-close. Though not always effective in terms of scoring, Hermosillo’s pressure ensured Magsayo was forced to work through every exchange.
Round five marked the first clear instance of Magsayo outworking Hermosillo. A sustained body attack helped him gain momentum, though it did little to slow Hermosillo, who averaged over 85 punches per round.
Hermosillo delivered his best punch of the fight in round seven, catching Magsayo with a sharp left hand after the Filipino lunged in recklessly following a missed right. Hermosillo maintained his forward pressure in round eight, throwing significantly more punches, though Magsayo remained the more efficient and accurate fighter.
Responding to the urgent instructions of Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach, Magsayo surged forward in round nine. The 25-year-old landed a fierce flurry that forced Hermosillo onto the back foot for the first time. Hermosillo briefly touched the canvas midway through the round, though referee Jack Reiss correctly ruled it a slip. Magsayo continued to pour on the offense, landing a crisp left uppercut and right hand while showcasing sharp lateral movement.
Both fighters closed strong in the 10th and final round. Hermosillo’s work rate was no longer overwhelming, as Magsayo countered with excellent defense and precise right-hand shots. Hermosillo stayed committed to his attack, landing a right uppercut and left hand in the closing moments, but the fight ended with Magsayo confident he had done enough to preserve his unbeaten record.
According to CompuBox, Hermosillo (11-3-1, 8 KOs) landed 181 of 856 punches (21%), a torrid pace that earned him one scorecard and kept the contest close. Magsayo’s superior accuracy and defense—connecting on 136 of 417 punches (33%)—proved decisive as he improved to 27-0 (20 KOs).
The bout marked Magsayo’s first appearance under Manny Pacquiao’s MP Promotions banner following a 15-month layoff due to promotional issues. With momentum restored, Magsayo now sets his sights on a future showdown with featherweight champion Gary Russell Jr., hoping to challenge the elusive titlist during Russell’s annual ring appearance in 2021.