IT’LL be win or bust for unbeaten prospect Mark Magsayo when he faces former world title contender Chris Avalos next month here in Cebu City.
A win should prove that he’s indeed a world class fighter, while a defeat could derail his fast-rising status as one of the future stars of the country.
“To be honest, there are no expectations. All we want to know is if Magsayo has it or not. There have been a lot of people, the media and even Freddie Roach saying that Magsayo has the potential to be a star and could be the future of Philippine boxing. But it’s hard to believe that until you test the fighter. That’s the only way to find out,” ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer told Sun.Star Cebu. Magsayo, 20, had a very impressive amateur career before his transition to the pro ranks that has him winning all of his 14 fights, with 10 of those by knockout.
Magsayo dropped some jaws in his US debut in October when knocked out then unbeaten up-and-comer Yardley Suarez in only a single round at the StubHub Center in Carson, California.
Magsayo scored a lopsided unanimous decision in his latest fight against Eduardo Montoya at the Waterfront Hotel and Casino.
Avalos, however, should be Magsayo’s stiffest test because he has an impressive credential.
“It may be for a new belt. It’s going to be a huge treat as Avalos is more experienced and has fought world champions. It’s going to be a make-or-break fight for Magsayo. He has learned a lot from his last fight. This will definitely be a step up for Magsayo in his 14th fight. This should tell us where his career will be going,” said Aldeguer.
Avalos is coming off a forgettable campaign in 2015, wherein he lost two of three fights. He opened up last year with a fifth round stoppage in the hands of Brit Carl Frampton in an International Boxing Federation (IBF) super bantamweight title fight in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Avalos bounced back with a unanimous decision win over Filipino Rey Perez but was stopped in the fifth round in his next fight against undefeated prospect Oscar Valdez.
But despite that he owns wins over quality opponents like former world champion Jhonathan Romero; former world title contenders Cecilio Santos and Jose Nieves; and Filipino fighters Drian Francisco and Rolly Lunas.
