Mark Magsayo feels certain that he wants to put his name in the boxings’ history books.
In an interview with The Premiere Boxing Champions Podcast, Magsayo shared his sentiments on being pegged as the next Manny Pacquiao since winning the World Boxing Council World Featherweight title.
“There’s only one Manny Pacquiao, there’s no next Manny Pacquiao,” said Magsayo, who is unbeaten in 24 fights.
Just like Magsayo, the Filipino living legend was in the featherweight division from 2004 to 2008. There, he got possession of the WBC World Super Featherweight Title and the WBC International Super Featherweight Title, before moving up his weight class.
“For me, I train hard, I work hard every day in the gym. I work hard, so I don’t mind those people who say, ‘You’re the next Manny Pacquiao,'” the 27-year-old native of Tagbilaran City, Bohol.
“I told them, there’s no next Manny Pacquiao. I’m gonna put my name in history with my own hard work. So I will just be myself.”
Magsayo won his first major world title earlier this year after beating Gary Russell Jr. via majority decision where he got the WBC World Featherweight Title.
When asked about his upcoming opponent Rey Vargas, the undefeated world champion did not hesitate to share his thoughts.
“Rey Vargas is a tall fighter, a slugger fighter. All his fights he runs, all his fights. I saw every fight. So I hope he’s not gonna run too much for this coming fight. Because if he’s not gonna run too much in this fight, it’s gonna be a great night for a Mexican and a Filipino fight.”
Magsayo will face the also undefeated Mexican fighter in his first-ever title defense fight on Saturday at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.
Earlier last month, Vargas (35-0, 22 KO) received an invite to the same podcast. There, he promised to knock the Filipino champion out in their upcoming bout.
But for Magsayo, it is not something that he hasn’t heard before.
“Everybody of my opponents told that. Ceja told me that he’s gonna knock me out. Gary Russell too. My fist will talk in the fight,” said Magsayo.
“It’s encouraging me to fight like that. When they talk about me ‘I’m gonna knock him out’ like Chris Avalos saying, ‘I’m gonna kill you’, I mean that’s okay. Let’s just fight in the ring.”
