READY FOR WAR. Mark Magsayo (left) and his opponent, ex-world title challenger Daniel Diaz of Nicaragua, face spectators during the weigh-in event of Pinoy Pride 41 yesterday at the SM City Cebu event center.
(CDN PHOTO/ LITO TECSON)
What was supposed to be 32 rounds of boxing got cut to just six Saturday night as Mark Magsayo, Jeo Santisima and “Prince” Albert Pagara trounced their foreign foes in Pinoy Pride 41.
Magsayo stopped Nicaraguan Daniel Diaz in 1:46 of the first round to retain his World Boxing Organization international featherweight crown in the 12-round main event at IEC Convention Center in Cebu City.
Santisima was even more imposing as he knocked out Tanzanian super bantamweight champion Goodluck Mrema in 1:18 of the first round of the 10-round supporting bout.
Continuing his climb back to the top, Pagara sent Patomsith Pathompothong to the canvas and to the hospital in four rounds of another 10-rounder.
Living up to his “Magnifico” moniker, Magsayo first downed Diaz with a right-left combination to the head, followed it up with left hooks, and then finished the job with more lefts.
The 22-year-old Magsayo stretched his win run to 17, 13 by knockouts, while Diaz dropped to 23-8-2, 15 KOs.
Rising star Santisima rocked a charging Mrema with a combination and then sent the Tanzanian flat on his back with a solid overhand right to the jaw.
It was the 12th straight win, 11 by knockout, for the 21-year-old Santisima, who climbed to 14-2. Mrema absorbed his first loss after 16 straight wins.
Pagara, now 27-1 with 19 KOs, landed a wicked left to the solar plexus, flooring the Thai, who was eventually taken to the hospital on a stretcher, with one second to go in the fourth round.
Pathompothong, who did not sustain a broken bone, dropped to 16-10. —ROY LUARCA