CEBU, Philippines – Undefeated featherweight prospect Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo of Cebu’s fabled ALA Boxing Gym braces himself for a make or break fight when he battles American ‘Hitman’ Chris Avalos on the undercard of Nonito Donaire’s WBO super bantamweight title defense against Hungarian Zsolt Bedak on April 23 at the Cebu City Sports Center.
ALA Promotions President and CEO Michael P. Aldeguer has confirmed that the mouth-watering showdown is already a done deal after Avalos signed the contract a few days ago and that he hopes they are right in their decision to pit the youthful Magsayo against a dangerous opponent with a superior level of experience and maturity.
“It’s a done deal as Avalos has signed the contract already. I hope we made the right decision in pitting a young fighter with just 13 fights to his credit against a more exprienced opponent,” said Aldeguer. “It’s different in the higher 126 lbs. division. It’s much tougher than the lower weights.”
Parading a modest 26-4 record packed with 19KOs, the 26-year-old Avalos has fought – and beaten – top caliber Filipino pugs. He decisioned Drian Francisco to win the WBO NABO junior featherweight belt on July 12, 2013 at the Texas Station Casino in Las Vegas. For months later, he defended his belt with a third round stoppage of Rolly Lunas at the AVI Resort & Casino in Laughlin, Nevada.
Avalos vied for the IBF super bantamweight plum, but lost by fifth round TKO to current world champion Carl Frampton on February 28 last year at the Odyssey Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Though coming off a fifth round TKO defeat to Oscar Valdez in his previous bout on September 11 last year at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Avalos still poses a major thorn in Magsayo’s part to stardom given his vast experience and ring craftsmanship. Freeman ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch:
The way he sees things, Aldeguer said the future of Magsayo’s fistic career will be determined on how he fares against Avalos.
“It’s going to be a huge test as Avalos is much 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.
The 20-year-old Magsayo though is expected to hold his ground against Avalos.
Sporting a clean 13-0 slate dotted with 10KOs, the pride of Tagbilaran City scored a lopsided unanimous decision win over Mexican Eduardo Monyota to add the WBO strap to his IBF Youth featherweight title during the “Pinoy Pride 35:Stars of the Future” boxing card two weeks ago at the Waterfront-Cebu City Hotel and Casino.
Magsayo was an apparition of delight in his US debut, coming up with a spectacular first-round knockout of the previously unbeaten Mexican champion Yardley Suarez during the first ever Pinoy Pride event in America on October 17 last year at the SutbHub Center in Carson City, California.
An all-around warrior with speed, power and tactical fighting skills, Magsayo is without doubt one of the brightest contenders in Philipine boxing today. But his advance to stardom will only be validated if he rises above what is by far the toughest challenge of his budding career in Avalos. (FREEMAN)
