Former WBC featherweight champion Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo has spoken publicly following his unanimous-decision defeat to unbeaten American Andres Cortes, offering his first detailed reaction after a difficult night in Las Vegas.
Magsayo lost all three judges’ scorecards, 97-93, in the 10-round lightweight bout at T-Mobile Arena on September 12, 2026, ending his five-fight winning streak and dropping his professional record to 29-3 with 19 knockouts. Cortes, meanwhile, improved to 26-0 with 13 KOs.
But the result was only part of the story.
According to the Cebu Daily News report referenced in this story, Magsayo also disclosed an injury that affected him during the fight, adding another layer to the Filipino boxer’s difficult night. The Cebu Daily News page itself was inaccessible to independent retrieval at the time of verification, so the specific medical detail is not being expanded here beyond what can be independently corroborated.
What Magsayo has publicly confirmed, however, is that he is not making excuses for the defeat.
“I have no excuses. It wasn’t my night tonight.”
Magsayo also acknowledged that Cortes presented problems he struggled to solve.
“He was tricky to figure out, and I felt like I was finally getting to him later in the fight, but I ran out of time.”
The comments were reported by MyTV Cebu after Magsayo posted his reaction on Facebook. He said he plans to rest, spend time with his family and eventually return to training.
Cortes controlled the fight early
Cortes entered the bout unbeaten and used his movement, timing and right hand to keep Magsayo from establishing a consistent offensive rhythm.
GMA News reported that Cortes repeatedly beat Magsayo to the punch and built an early advantage before Magsayo mounted a late rally. The Filipino’s best moment came in the ninth round, when a left hook appeared to briefly affect Cortes. But Magsayo could not generate enough momentum to overturn the deficit.
The unusual officiating also became a major talking point.
Magsayo was sent toward the canvas several times during the bout, but two knockdown calls made by referee Celestino Ruiz were subsequently overturned following replay review by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
The Ring likewise reported that the two initial knockdown calls were overturned, while Cortes ultimately secured a clear unanimous-decision victory on the judges’ cards.
A five-fight winning streak comes to an end
The defeat halted a strong run for Magsayo.
Before facing Cortes, the Bohol-born boxer had won five straight fights, including a fifth-round stoppage of Feargal McCrory in April. His victory over McCrory had helped position him for another opportunity in the lightweight division.
Magsayo entered the Cortes fight with the opportunity to strengthen his position at 135 pounds, but Cortes’ undefeated record remained intact after 10 rounds.
Bombo Radyo Cebu also reported that Magsayo was able to mount a late response after Cortes suffered a facial injury, but it was not enough to change the outcome.
Magsayo’s message: rest, learn and return
Despite the setback, Magsayo’s immediate message has been one of recovery rather than controversy.
He thanked God for allowing both fighters to leave the ring safely, credited Cortes for his performance and said he intends to learn from the experience before returning to the gym.
The loss leaves Magsayo at 29-3 (19 KOs), while Cortes moves forward with an undefeated 26-0 (13 KOs) record.
For Magsayo, the next chapter now centers on recovery and determining his next move in the crowded lightweight division.
And with the Filipino former world champion already promising a return, the question is no longer simply what went wrong against Cortes—but what Magsayo does next after the setback.
