Mark Magsayo is now the number one contender for the World Boxing Council featherweight championship after a spectacular come-from-behind knockout against former world champion Julio Ceja of Mexico.
Magsayo suffered a knockdown in the fifth round but he was able to get his second wind later in the match as Ceja started to fade. The undefeated Filipino boxer hurt Ceja early in the tenth and then finished the fight with two right straights that sent Ceja down for good.
The Mexican fighter was so out of it that the referee did not even bother to finish the count. The official time of the stoppage was 50 seconds into round 10.
Magsayo keeps his undefeated record with 23 wins powered by 16 knockouts.
It was not an easy victory by any means for the Filipino fighter as he was dragged into deep waters by the game Mexican veteran. Magsayo ate a bevy of body punches in throughout the fight but he dug deep, got his second wind, and picked up the biggest win of his career.
Ceja's record fell to 32 wins, five losses, and a draw as Magsayo is now the mandatory challenger to WBC featherweight champion Gary Russell, Jr.
Magsayo got Ceja's attention early in the match as the Filipino puncher caught him with a solid left hook that floored the Mexican 30 seconds in.
After losing 10-8 in the first round, Ceja recovered nicely in the second and third as he pushed forward to prevent Magsayo from getting the space he needs to throw his combinations. The Mexican fighter stayed aggressive throughout the early rounds while Magsayo banked on his speed and combination punching.
The corner of Ceja implored him to attack the body of Magsayo and he did it effectively in the fifth round. When Magsayo dropped his defense to protect his mid-section, Ceja caught him with a left hook to score a knockdown.
Magsayo did his best to bounce back in the sixth as connected with a stiff left hook that momentarily stopped Ceja from moving forward.
The action picked up again in the ninth round for Magsayo as he stung Ceja with a combination. The Filipino landed the cleaner blows as he had his best round since the first. It was a sign that Ceja was starting to fade, leading into the 10th round stoppage for Magsayo.
It was a timely stoppage for Magsayo, who was trailing on all three scorecards heading into the 10th round. Judges Max Deluca and Lisa Giampa had Ceja ahead 86-83, while judge Don Trella had it 87-82.