Magsayo, Cortes lock horns in Zuffa Boxing main card opener

CEBU CITY, Philippines — Former world champion Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo returns to the big stage when he takes on unbeaten Andres Cortes in the main card opener of the Ryan Garcia–Conor Benn showdown on September 12 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States.

Zuffa Boxing announced the intriguing matchup, pitting two fighters looking to move closer to a world title shot.

Magsayo-Cortes clash

Magsayo, a former WBC featherweight champion from Tagbilaran City, Bohol, owns a 29–2 record with 19 knockouts, while Cortes remains unbeaten at 25–0 with 13 KOs.

Magsayo has quietly rebuilt his career since losing his WBC featherweight title to Rey Vargas in 2022.

The 31-year-old Filipino, a former ALA Boxing Gym stalwart, has won five straight fights since then, moving higher into the heavier 135-pound division. His recent victories include wins over Eduardo Ramirez, Jorge Mata, and Feargal McCrory in his debut with Zuffa Boxing.

Cortes, meanwhile, has steadily climbed the ranks without suffering a loss. The 29-year-old Las Vegas-based fighter has scored notable victories over Xavier Martinez in 2023, Abraham Nova in 2024, and Eridson Garcia in their April showdown.

The winner of the Magsayo-Cortes clash is expected to move within striking distance of a world title opportunity.

“I’ve waited for a night like this my whole career. I signed with Zuffa to be on the biggest shows,” Magsayo told Ring Magazine.

“Andres Cortes called me out, and I answered. He won’t have his ‘0’ after I get done with him.”

Cortes, however, is equally confident heading into the fight.

“This is my opportunity to show the world what I can do. I’m going to destroy Mark Magsayo on September 12,” Cortes said. “Growing up in the gyms in Las Vegas, I dreamed of fighting on a platform like this in front of my people. The time has come.”

The main event features Ryan Garcia defending his World Boxing Council (WBC) world welterweight title against British boxer Conor Benn.

Disclaimer: The comments uploaded on this site do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of management and owner of Cebudailynews. We reserve the right to exclude comments that we deem to be inconsistent with our editorial standards.