At 22, Mark Magsayo is looking to become the new darling of Filipino boxing as Manny Pacquiao?s light begins to fade. For decades now, Manny Pacquiao has transcended boxing in The Philippines becoming a national icon inside and outside of the ring; his imminent retirement from the sport opens up the door for a new leading light in Filipino boxing. Young and undefeated
Formally signing with ALA Promotions of Cebu in 2013, the Boholano native currently holds an 18-0 professional record and with just four years of professional contests under his belt ?Magnifico? Magsayo has plenty of time for development within the sport.
With Pacquiao starting his career at flyweight, the rangier and naturally stronger Magsayo is currently plying his trade at featherweight. At 126lbs, Magsayo is expected to move up the divisions throughout his career as he grows into his body; 22 years of age is too young to settle on a weight division with any real confidence.
Baptism of fire
Fighting mainly in The Philippines (despite making two appearances on American soil), Magsayo enjoyed his ?breakout? fight in April last year when he took on the talented Chris Avalos (26-5-KO19) in Cebu City.
Aged just 20 at the time of this fight, the youngster served up an enthralling battle against the American Avalos. There was a partisan crowd present within the Cebu City Sports Complex, however they were quickly silenced when Avalos dropped the home-fighter with a left hook in the third round. Magsayo made the sign of the cross and rose to his feet as he battled through the remaining seconds of the round.
Magsayo gathered his composure in the fourth round and managed to find a sweet counter-left of his own to stun Avalos late in the fifth round. With swinging hooks and counter uppercuts there were echoes of ?Pacman? in Magsayo?s onslaught on Avalos and at the bell of the fifth round the visiting fighter was left stunned on the ropes with the crowd going wild.
It took just a minute of the sixth round for ?Magnifico? to get the stoppage as Avalos? team threw in the towel, securing the WBO International title for the Filipino.
Showing the heart and determination to get up after a knockdown, coupled with the come-forward, flamboyant and exciting style that Pacquiao was renowned for, Magsayo announced himself onto the world stage.
The future
Since defeating Avalos, Magsayo has made three defences of his WBO International featherweight strap in four fights against Ramiro Robles, Issa Nampepeche, Daniel Diaz and most recently Shota Hayashi in a 12-round unanimous decision. With the featherweight division booming, there is potential for the 22-year-old to move fast within the division as he looks to join Milan Melindo, Donnie Nietes and Jerwin Ancajas as Filipino world champions.
Winning in front of a sold-out home crowd at the Bohol Wisdom Gymnasium on Saturday night, Magsayo showed composure and maturity in speaking after the fight:
?He was very tough. It was my hardest fight thus far. He had a very tough chin. I felt that I hurt him. I was not thinking of a knockout because I felt that he was a formidable opponent. I learned that I should pace myself, not be too overconfident and stick to the plan.?
Holding the WBO International strap for over a year now, the natural progression would be a challenge against the WBO featherweight king ? Oscar Valdez. Rumblings of this proposed fight could be heard loud and clear after Saturday nights fight, however still ripe in his professional career it?s unclear whether ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer will want to rush the progression of Magsayo. Speaking after the fight Aldeguer stated the following:
Right now there?s always the pressure of whether he is ready for a world title. I?ll give him more time to really mature and learn from this. We?re looking at one more fight and see. There?s no need to rush. I would rather make him a long world champion, a star that he can become, he has the potential to be that. Why rush him. If it?s pressed for time, we?ll grab it. If you give him more time, he?ll be greater.?
In a talent-stacked 126lbs division including Leo Santa Cruz, Carl Frampton, Scott Quigg, Abner Mares, Lee Selby, Gary Russell Jr and the aforementioned Oscar Valdez, timing will be crucial for Magsayo with the danger of the Filipino looking for his world title chance too early, having a negative effect on his development as a fighter.
Talk of another weight joining the World Boxing Super Series would offer a fantastic opportunity for the featherweights; something that the Sauerland brothers have made no secret about looking towards in 2018. Another reason for Magsayo to bide his time, perhaps?
Whether the 22-year-old moves up in weight, secures a world title shot or has a 2018 full of building and ?tune-up? fights, one thing is for sure: ?Magnifico? has all the ingredients to follow in the footsteps firmly trodden by Manny Pacquiao.
