Mark Magsayo vs Andres Cortes Preview September 12th, 2026
Former WBC Featherweight Champ Mark Magsayo of the Philippines returns to the ring this Saturday, September 12th when he takes on unbeaten Andres Cortes in Cortes’ hometown of Las Vegas, Nevada. The 10-round lightweight encounter can be seen live on Paramount + in most nations on the undercard of the Ryan Garcia vs Conor Benn battle. The card will be shown on DAZN pay-per-view in the UK and Ireland. Magsayo last fought in April when he stopped Feargal McCrory in the fifth round. Cortes was last in action in April when he beat Eridson Garcia by a 10-round unanimous decision with Garcia losing a point for holding in the fourth round.
Magsayo vs Cortes Betting Odds
Here are the betting odds from online sportsbook BetOnline.ag (full review here).
- Andres Cortes -105
- Mark Magsayo -125
My Pick
The 31-year-old Magsayo, who boxes out of Las Vegas, carries around a mark of 29-2 with 19 Ko’s and has boxed 185 rounds since making his pro debut in 2013. He has better-than-average power in his arsenal as 65.5 per cent of his wins have been by stoppage including three of his last five. Magsayo stands just over 5-feet-6-inches tall with a wingspan of 67.5 inches and is usually an exciting fighter thanks to his aggressive style and his power. His biggest wins so far have been over Gary Allen Russell Jr, Jorge Mata, Julio Ceja, Yardley Cruz, Chris Avalos and Pablo Cruz.
His 10-round unanimous decision over Mata in July, 2025 was for the vacant WBC Continental Americas Super Featherweight Belt. Magsayo captured the WBC Featherweight Title with his unanimous decision over Russell in January, 2022. However he lost it six months later in his first defence to Rey Vargas by split decision even though he had Vargas down in the ninth round. Magsayo lost his second straight fight in March, 2023 when Brandon Figueroa beat him by a wide unanimous decision for the WBC Interim Featherweight Belt with Magsayo having a point deducted in the eighth and 11th rounds for holding.
Since turning pro Magsayo has also captured the IBF Youth Featherweight Title in 2015, the WBO Youth Featherweight Title in 2016, the WBO International Featherweight Title in 2016 and the WBC Asian Boxing Council Featherweight Belt. He also had a successful amateur career by earning gold medals at the 2010 Mayor Jonas Cortes Cup, the 2012 Bantamweight (Junior Division) at the PLDT-ABAP National Boxing Championships. Magsayo has been dropped a few times as a pro though, so he may not have the best of chins. However, that’s also part of what makes him such a fan-friendly boxer.
The 29-year-old Cortes climbs through the ropes with a perfect mark of 25-0 with 13 Ko’s. He has 136 rounds of pro experience to his name since making his debut in 2016. As an amateur he lost to Teofimo Lopez in the semifinals of the 2015 National Golden Gloves Tournament and won a silver medal at the Youth National Championships the same year when he was beaten by Devin Haney in the final.
He also won silver medals at the 2013 and 2014 Youth National Championships. As a pro, Cortes captured the vacant WBC USA Silver Super Featherweight Title in 2023 when he stopped Xavier Martinez after seven rounds. He added the WBO Inter-Continental Super Featherweight Belt in his next outing in 2024 by stopping Bryan Chevalier in the fourth round. In 2025 he then beat Abraham Nova by a 10-round unanimous nod for the WBO NABO Super Featherweight Belt.
Cortes also has wins over Luis Melendez, Abraham Montoya, Genesis Servania and Omar Castillo. He measures 5-feet-7-inches tall with a 65-inch reach so gives up 2.5-inches in reach to Magsayo but is half-an-inch taller. Cortes has just above average power as 52 per cent of his wins have come by stoppage and he’s gone the distance in three of his past four contests.
Prediction…
As the odds show, this is a pretty even matchup that could go either way as both boxers are solid pros with plenty of experience. Magsayo has greater power and experience against tougher opponents but Cortes is arguably the better overall boxer. I’m on the fence with this one but I think if both boxers are at their peak and Cortes can handle Magsayo’s power, then he’ll do just enough to earn a close, hard-fought victory.
Cortes has a close edge in pure boxing skills.
Play: Cortes -105 @ BetOnline.ag
Check out my recent boxing betting picks to see my current form.
Andres Cortes betting • Mark Magsayo betting