Another week, another delay in the ordered Eduardo Hernandez-Mark Magsayo WBC junior-lightweight title elimination bout.
BoxingScene has confirmed that the scheduled April 22 purse bid hearing – which was already pushed back twice – has once again been postponed by one week, though this time for good reason. The session was in doubt once the WBC declared a seven-day period of mourning following the passing of Pope Francis on Monday.
A request was made with the WBC by MP Promotions, who represents Magsayo along with TGB Promotions on behalf of Premier Boxing Champions, to push back the hearing to April 29. Representatives from Matchroom Boxing, “Rocky” Hernandez’s promoter, were included on an email notice obtained by BoxingScene.
The two sides have made proper use of the extra time to negotiate terms. BoxingScene has learned that, with a deal in place, the fight could take place in July.
One targeted destination for the final eliminator would be a PBC show headlined by the rumored Mario Barrios-Manny Pacquiao WBC welterweight title fight. The working match-up was first reported by Brunch Boxing.
The winner of Hernandez-Magsayo would become the mandatory challenger for the WBC junior-lightweight title. O’Shaquie Foster, 23-3 (12 KOs) is a two-time and reigning beltholder and is eyeing an optional defense against the two-division and reigning WBC featherweight titlist Stephen Fulton, who would move up in weight.
Foster’s first title reign began with a dramatic, 12th-round stoppage of Mexico City’s Hernandez, 37-2 (32 KOs) in their vacant title fight in October 2023 in Cancun, Mexico.
Hernandez led on two of the three scorecards, to where he only had to survive the 12th and final round to have been guaranteed a split-decision win. Foster rallied to score two knockdowns and to force the stoppage with just 22 seconds left.
Three wins have followed for Hernandez. In his most recent start, the Mexican knockout artist was forced to go 12 rounds in a lopsided, unanimous decision victory over his countryman Rene Tellez Giron atop a DAZN show from Gatineau, Canada on February 28.
Magsayo is a former WBC featherweight beltholder who has won three straight since moving up in weight after the end of his title reign.
The 29 year old from Tagbilaran City, Philippines – and based in Southern California – earned an upset victory over Gary Russell Jnr in January 2022 for his lone career title win. He suffered his first defeat and the end of his reign just six months later in July 2022, via a points loss to the then-unbeaten Rey Vargas in San Antonio, Texas.
Magsayo was subsequently granted a shot at the interim WBC featherweight title. That opportunity ended in a decision defeat by Brandon Figueroa in March 2023.
That bout was his last at featherweight. His past three wins have come at junior lightweight. His most recent was a second-round stoppage of Bryan Mercado in December in Long Beach, California.
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