ALL roads lead to the Cebu City Sports Center this Saturday night as Nonito Donaire faces off against Zsolt Bedak of Hungaria for the WBO Super bantamweight title.
It?s not every day a big-time boxing event of this magnitude is held here and if you?re a boxing fan, this fight should be on your bucket list.
The supporting main event features up-and-coming Mark ?Magnifico? Magsayo against Chris Avalos for the vacant WBO international flyweight title.
This will be Magsayo?s first real test as the 26 year old Avalos (26-4, 19Kos) is an accomplished fighter who has fought for a world title against Carl Frampton (loss via kayo)
Magsayo (13-0,10 Kos) hasn?t faced an opponent of Avalos? caliber and this definitely is a compelling fight that should be a reliable metric of Magsayo?s capabilities.
Donaire is fresh off that impressive performance against against Cesar Juarez last December and ?The Filipino Flash? is eager to reclaim his status as the apex fighter in his weight class.
Bedak (25-1, 8Kos) is certainly no pushover. He?s a world class fighter who is the WBO?s European super bantamweight champion.
His only loss came against Wilfredo Vasquez Jr, whom Donaire defeated in 2012 via decision.
Bedak?s greatest drawback is the lack of pop in his gloves but he?s like a machine on top of the ring who likes to outwork his opponents and isn?t afraid to stand in front and throw combinations.
Here?s how I feel the fight will play out:
In the first round, Bedak comes out aggressively and immediately buckles down to work.
He brings the fight to Donaire and the latter wisely opts to box, lashing out with jabs the occasional counter-punch.
The pattern repeats itself in the second and the first half of the third , until Donaire connects with the first big punch of the fight?a right uppercut that lands smack on Bedak?s chin and causes him to take a knee.
The crowd goes wild, but Bedak gets up at the count of 5 and seems more upset than hurt.
Donaire tries to finish him off but the Hungarian fends off his attack by tying him up till the round ends.
Bedak seems to have sufficiently recovered in the fourth, but Donaire doesn?t give up trying to land the knockout blow.
Bedak adopts a more defensive and conservative stance in the middle rounds and this seems to work as the openings become scarcer for Donaire.
Donaire?s output wanes in the 7th and 8th round as he seems to have punched himself out trying to go for the stoppage win.
Sensing his opponent to be tiring, Bedak comes on strong and by the end of round 9 is connecting solidly on Donaire who gets trapped along the ropes.
In the 10th both fighters appear spent but around the two minute mark, Donaire finally connects with his patented left hook which knocks down Bedak.
He gets up at the count of eight and soldiers on. Donaire proceeds to dish out a terrible beating at round eleven but Bedak?s excellent conditioning carries him through.
However, his corner men prevent a bloodied but unbowed Bedak from coming out to answer the bell in the final round, making it a TKO victory for ?The Filipino Flash?.
VERBATIM. ?I don?t know. I might enjoy a retired life or I might give a comeback. It?s hard to say because I?m not there yet. But right now my decision is to retire.? Manny Pacquiao (www.boxingtribunenews.com)
LAST ROUND. It?s on my beloved mom, Elena Mayol Quijano, who celebrates her birthday this week. Cheers, mom, we love you!
