Mark Magsayo has been chasing a night like this his entire career, and on September 12 (September 13, Manila time), he finally gets it.
The Filipino former world champion faces unbeaten Las Vegas native Andres “Savage” Cortes in a 10-round lightweight bout at T-Mobile Arena, opening what’s shaping up to be one of the year’s most stacked cards. The night is headlined by the welterweight super fight between reigning champion Ryan Garcia and Britain’s Conor Benn, with Zuffa Boxing and Ring cruiserweight world champion Jai Opetaia facing two-time world champion Noel Mikaelian in the co-feature. The full Garcia-Benn card streams exclusively on Paramount+ at no extra cost to subscribers everywhere outside the UK and Ireland, where it airs via DAZN PPV.
Magsayo Gets on the Big Show
For Magsayo (29-2, 19 KOs), the matchup is both an opportunity and a bit of unfinished business. He captured the featherweight world title back in 2022 by dethroning U.S. Olympian Gary Russell Jr., and since moving up in weight, he’s reeled off five straight wins, most recently stopping Feargal McCrory in five rounds at ZUFFA BOXING 05 in April. Cortes (25-0, 13 KOs) was actually the headliner of that same card, taking a unanimous decision over Eridson Garcia.
“I’ve waited for a night like this my whole career. I signed with Zuffa to be on the biggest shows,” Magsayo said. “Andres Cortes called me out, and I answered. He won’t have his ‘0’ after I get done with him.”
Cortes isn’t backing down from the challenge. “This is my opportunity to show the world what I can do. I’m going to destroy Mark Magsayo on September 12,” he 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.”
A Heavyweight Prospect Worth Watching
The undercard carries its own intrigue. Twenty-one-year-old heavyweight prospect Da’Mazion Vanhouter (12-0, 9 KOs) squares off against 6-foot-8 puncher Raphael Akpejiori (19-3, 18 KOs) in an eight-round bout. Vanhouter turned pro at just 17 as a super welterweight back in 2022, and has since grown several inches while briefly campaigning at light heavyweight and cruiserweight before settling into the heavyweight division. He’s stopped four of his five opponents there in the opening round alone, most recently weighing in at 228½ pounds in May and knocking out Raphael Murphy in just 1:06.
Tickets are on sale now via AXS.com, with additional undercard bouts and further event details expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
