Pacquiao to first-time world champ Mark Magsayo: Welcome to the club!

Published January 23, 2022 2:48pm

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ - JANUARY 23: Mark Magsayo poses for a picture after defeating Gary Russell Jr. to win the WBC World Featherweight Championship at the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa on January 23, 2022 in Atlantic City, United States. Mitchell Leff/Getty Images/AFP

Eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao congratulated the newest Filipino world boxing champ Mark Magsayo in his win against Gary Russell, Jr.

In a tweet, Pacquiao thanked Magsayo "for bringing honor to our country by becoming the latest Filipino world boxing champion."

"Welcome to the club," Pacquiao also said.

Congratulations, @markmagsayo_MMM, on your first world championship! Thank you for bringing honor to our country by becoming the latest Filipino world boxing champion. Welcome to the club.
— Manny Pacquiao (@MannyPacquiao) January 23, 2022

Magsayo on Sunday claimed the WBC featherweight title after a major decision victory over Russell.

Veteran boxing analyst and lawyer Ed Tolentino previously compared Magsayo to a young Pacquiao, saying he had all the makings of a great fighter.

—Justin Kenneth Carandang/JMB, GMA News

Tags: Manny Pacquiao, Mark Magsayo, boxing