Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo is now in San Antonio, Texas, to complete an important mission.,On Saturday night (Sunday in Manila), Magsayo makes the first defense — a mandatory — of the World Boxing Council (WBC) featherweight crown against Rey Vargas of Mexico.,The Alamodome, a massive venue near the Riverwalk, will play host to the scheduled 12-rounder that will reignite the fabled Philippines vs Mexico ring wars.,To get ready for Vargas, Magsayo kicked off training camp in April after vacationing in the Philippines in March.,Guided by Hall of Fame cornerman Freddie Roach, the unbeaten Magsayo faces a tough customer in Vargas, who is likewise tagging along a revered strategist in Nacho Beristain.,Beristain is best known for his job on Juan Manuel Marquez, considered the scourge of Manny Pacquiao.,In an interview with Yahoo Sports, Magsayo told Michael Rosenthal that there are still those who doubt him but he is raring to prove them all wrong.,“A lot of people doubt my talent, my skills,” he said.,“They say, ‘You beat the one-handed guy’ (referring to his title-winning effort against Gary Russell Jr.). That’s what people say. Doubters are there always. I don’t care. (But) I do want to prove that I’m a good fighter, the best fighter in this division.”,
,The first time Magsayo showed up at Roach’s Wild Card Being Club in 2015, he immediately made quite an impression.,But it wasn’t until a few years ago when Roach and Magsayo joined hands as they both target a winning partnership like Roach and Pacquiao did from 2001 until 2021.,Magsayo answers the bell this weekend as the Philippines’ remaining world champion following the spate of bad luck that struck Jerwin Anacajas, John Riel Casimero, Nonito Donaire and Rene Cuarto.,Based on track record, the Alamodome, which can accommodate up to 65,000, has been a favorable site for Philippine boxing,Pacquiao fought there twice.,The first time in November 2003, Pacquiao beat up Marco Antonio Barrera. Almost years later, Pacquiao returned there and mauled Jorge Solis.