Twin main events await in Cebu
THE MAIN bout could indeed end in one big knockout, but there’s no discounting the possibility that promoters could also savor serving the high-octane thrills of two main events in Cebu on Saturday.
For starters, pre-fight views favor WBO super bantamweight titlist Nonito Donaire Jr. to retain his crown via stoppage. Donaire had himself vowed to finish his job inside six rounds.
It doesn’t promise to be that simple.
* * *
For the record, the camp of Hungarian Zsolt Bedak announced that, although they’re banking on an upset, they don’t expect to score the reversal via a stoppage.
The fourth-ranked Bedac will go for a win in his tried and tested way.
Saying that the fierce Donaire loves to slug it out, the opposing camp said Bedac would try to put up a boxing clinic.
* * *
Donaire had shown weakness against technical fighters like Cuban Guillermo Rigondeaux, so Bedac said he would do it his way: box, take control, ride on skills that had their priming in the Olympics.
Going by the records and achievements of the main protagonists, there could be complications for both fighters.
What stands out, though, is the promise of a delightful action-packed world championship.
* * *
There’s a belated report about a supposed companion main event, a clash between a Mexican and an Australian for the WBC Continental Americas super featherweight title.
But what promises to steal the thunder at Cebu City Sports Center is the bout between the unbeaten Mark Magsayo (13-0, 10 KOs) and Chris Avalos, a tested world title hunter.
It’s no secret the 20-year-old Magsayo had specifically requested promoters to line up Avalos, 26, for his next foe.
* * *
The Avalos camp was more than willing to accommodate the noisy challenge.
To fire up the feud, Team Avalos minced no words in declaring it would be a bout between the young boy Magsayo and the battle-scarred veteran Avalos, who lost to Carl “The Jackal” Frampton in a world super bantamweight championship last year.
Short of saying he would give Magsayo a boxing lesson, Avalos said his younger foe readily commits mistake inside the ring.
Avalos (26-4, 19 KOs) has vowed to put to stop to the winning run of Magsayo, a relentless firebrand aiming to use Avalos as a stepping stone.
