Magsayo Makes Weight, But Undefeated Cortes Stands in His Way—What Happens Next in Las Vegas?

LAS VEGAS — Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo has cleared the first major hurdle.

The former WBC featherweight world champion officially weighed in at 134.5 pounds, while unbeaten American Andres Cortes came in exactly at the 135-pound lightweight limit, making their highly anticipated 10-round showdown official for Saturday, September 12, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

The fight will take place on the undercard of the blockbuster Ryan Garcia-Conor Benn WBC welterweight title fight, putting Magsayo in front of another major American boxing audience as he continues his campaign in the lightweight division.

But while both fighters successfully made weight, the bigger question is now waiting inside the ring: Can Magsayo hand Cortes the first defeat of his professional career?

Magsayo enters with momentum

Magsayo, 29-2 with 19 knockouts, is riding a five-fight winning streak and has quickly established himself as a dangerous contender since moving up to lightweight.

The 31-year-old Filipino scored his most recent victory in April, stopping Northern Ireland’s Feargal McCrory by fifth-round technical knockout in his lightweight debut.

That performance followed victories over Bryan Mercado and Isaac Avelar, among others, and signaled that Magsayo remains a serious threat despite moving up from the featherweight division.

Philstar reported earlier that Magsayo’s recent run included three knockout victories, while Sky Sports described his victory over McCrory as an impressive introduction to the lightweight ranks.

Now, however, he faces a fundamentally different challenge.

Cortes brings an unbeaten record

Standing opposite Magsayo will be Las Vegas native Andres Cortes, who enters the fight with a perfect 25-0 record and 13 knockouts.

Cortes also fought at Zuffa Boxing 05 in April, defeating Eridson Garcia by unanimous decision. His ability to control distance and attack with combinations before quickly moving out of range was highlighted by Sky Sports in its assessment of his performance.

The undefeated American has also made no secret of his confidence.

Cortes previously said he intended to “destroy” Magsayo, prompting the Filipino former champion to fire back by pointing to his experience against high-level opponents such as Julio Ceja, Brandon Figueroa and Rey Vargas.

That history could prove important.

Magsayo has already shared the ring with several elite-level fighters, including Rey Vargas and Brandon Figueroa, while Cortes is still trying to take the biggest step of his career.

A pivotal fight for Magsayo

For Magsayo, this is about more than simply adding another victory.

A win over an undefeated lightweight contender could significantly strengthen his position in the division and move him closer to another world-title opportunity.

BusinessMirror reported that Magsayo’s camp views the fight as an extremely difficult assignment but also as a potentially career-changing opportunity. His manager Sean Gibbons described it as Magsayo’s moment and suggested that victory would put him back into the championship picture.

The WBA’s current records list Magsayo’s next fight as a lightweight bout against Cortes on September 12, while Cortes is also listed with an unbeaten record and a No. 12 WBA lightweight ranking in August.

Both fighters make the limit

Friday’s official weigh-in removed any uncertainty surrounding the lightweight limit.

Mark Magsayo — 134.5 lbs
Andres Cortes — 135 lbs

Both fighters are therefore cleared for their scheduled 10-round contest.

Their fight is part of a stacked card headlined by Ryan Garcia and Conor Benn. Garcia weighed 145.5 pounds and Benn 146 pounds for their WBC welterweight championship bout, while Jai Opetaia and Noel Mikaelian also successfully made weight for their cruiserweight title fight.

For Philippine boxing fans, however, the spotlight will be firmly on Magsayo.

The Bohol-born fighter now has the opportunity to turn his growing lightweight momentum into a statement victory against an undefeated opponent.

The weight has been made. The talking is nearly over.

Now comes the part that matters most.

Can Magsayo break Cortes’ perfect record—and put himself back on the road toward another world championship?