Mark Magsayo (L) lands a jab on Eduardo Ramirez. Photograph by Mikael Ona/Workforce Magsayo
After scoring his first important win within the junior light-weight division, Mark Magsayo is trying to the long run at 130 kilos. He hopes that future features a WBA junior light-weight title.
The 28-year-old from Tagbilaran Metropolis, Philippines received the job completed this previous Saturday, beating former title challenger Eduardo Ramirez by unanimous determination on the Gervonta Davis-Frank Martin undercard in Las Vegas. It wasn’t an encore of Magsayo’s first combat at 130 kilos final December, when he blasted out trialhorse Isaac Avelar with a single hook. On this evening, Magsayo flashed his energy with a knockdown within the third spherical earlier than cruising to a cushty factors win.
Nonetheless, there was heaps to remove from the ten spherical efficiency.
“Everyone is anticipating a knockout I feel due to the Avelar combat. However every little thing will depend on the scenario, too. I hearken to my coach. We wish to present that I can win rounds too if the KO is just not there and never lose rounds whereas going after the KO. Lots of people don’t know that Ramirez is sneaky and a veteran,” stated Magsayo (26-2, 17 knockouts) just a few days after the combat.
“Like all the time I wish to enhance and alter. I’m by no means content material and I will likely be again within the health club this week.”
Coach Marvin Somodio was happy with how his fighter regarded on the new weight, displaying stamina and punching energy that had deserted him in his final two fights at featherweight, the place he struggled to make the 126-pound restrict after ten years of combating in that division. He says they had been cautious about Magsayo’s counterpunching opponent, and had been content material to get the win whereas steering away from catastrophe.
“Now we have a saying, you don’t have to repair that which isn’t damaged. He was profitable every spherical. If we attempt to field and play it protected then we will win so simply as a result of we’re profitable each spherical,” stated Somodio.
Now Magsayo is hoping he has positioned himself for an additional title alternative, with WBA junior light-weight titleholder Lamont Roach his most popular goal. Roach (24-1-1, 9 KOs) of Higher Marlboro, Md. gained the title in November, defeating Hector Luis Garcia by cut up determination. Roach will make the primary protection of his belt on June 28, when he faces unbeaten Irishman Feargal McCrory (16-0, 8 KOs) in Washington D.C.
Magsayo was the no. 6 contender in the latest WBA rankings, however promoter Sean Gibbons of MP Promotions hopes that Magsayo selecting up the WBA Inter-Continental belt within the Ramirez combat will enhance his rating to as excessive as no. 2 when the following rankings come out.
“It will likely be a really fascinating combat,” stated Magsayo, who beforehand held the WBC featherweight title. “I’m excited for that. He is a good champion. Let’s put that to the take a look at when he defends the belt in opposition to me.”
“Subsequent cease hopefully is the WBA world title,” added Gibbons. Worst case is that we do an eliminator however undoubtedly capturing for a world title a while later within the yr.”
Roach, who has gained 5 straight since his lone defeat, a 2019 factors loss to Jamel Herring for the WBO junior light-weight title, is rated no. 4 by The Ring, whereas Magsayo has but to enter The Ring’s scores at 130 kilos.
Talking with The Ring, Roach says {that a} combat with Magsayo isn’t one he has contemplated, however provides it’s a combat he would think about if unification bouts don’t materialize.
“I by no means essentially considered it however I suppose it could be cool. I wouldn’t essentially set out and be like I wish to combat Mark, and I perceive why he says he desires to combat me as a result of I’ve a title however my aim is to unify. If it doesn’t occur and that combat is on the market and profitable, I might take that combat for certain as a result of he’s a tricky competitor,” stated Roach.
In the meantime, Somodio insists that his fighter is prepared for that problem.
“Even earlier than this combat he was prepared for him. I do know Lamont Roach is an effective boxer however I feel Mark is only a totally different animal,” stated Somodio.
Ryan Songalia has written for ESPN, the New York Each day Information, Rappler and The Guardian, and is a part of the Craig Newmark Graduate Faculty of Journalism Class of 2020. He could be reached at [email protected].
