Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo. FACEBOOK PHOTO
Manny Pacquiao has reportedly called out the doubted Irish UFC star Conor McGregor (“Stay fit, my friend”), but the unbeaten Mark Magsayo (17-0, 13 KOs) of the ALA Stable has remained top topic of the Pinoy boxing weekend.
Magsayo, 22, fights former Japanese domestic featherweight king Shota Hayashi (36 wins, 6 losses)) in the mainer of Pinoy Pride 43 in Tagbilaran, Bohol, on Saturday.
Magsayo, also called Magnifico, is heavily favored. Question is can he afford to be truly magnificent, or terribly good, against his 30-year-old Japanese foe?
In his previous fight in Cebu earlier last July, the power-punching Magsayo dusted off an obscure adventurer from Nicaragua in less than a round. Promoters reportedly had to apologize to fans for the tasteless bout, junked as a useless test for Magsayo.
Today, Magsayo faces Hayashi, supposedly strong, seasoned and tough.
After today’s assignment, Magsayo, No. 2 WBO featherweight title contender, could be featured in an eliminator against the top-rated Felix Diaz Jr. for the right to go for the WBO crown held by the popular Oscar Valdez of Tucson, Arizona.
Magsayo is a tested one-man wrecking crew. Only four among his past 17 victims had managed to finish on their feet.
However, Michael Aldeguer, his manager and chief handler, first wanted to determine if Magsayo has properly matured.
There’s no doubting Magsayo’s toughness and firepower.
In his big bout against former world title challenger Chris Avalos last year, Magsayo started out like a bus on fire. Wild and defenseless, he got hit hard, was floored in the third round. He got up, recovered instantly, and went on to stop Avalos in the sixth.
There’s great expectation Hayashi would be able to trade longer and harder against Magsayo.
It’s a tough task, but the visiting Japanese ring veteran with a total of six losses has been assigned the tall task of subjecting Magsayo to an all-important test in art of defense, control and rhythm.
Beating the undefeated Magsayo, who has obviously outgrown his WBO International featherweight title, appears next to impossible.