MAGSAYO'S TURN IN THE SPOTLIGHT
By Dong Secuya
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 11 Jul 2015
CEBU CITY ? Filipino boxing phenom Mark 'Magnifico' Magsayo will clash with Mexico's Rafael Reyes for the vacant IBF Youth featherweight title in tonight main undercard on 'Pinoy Pride XXXI' at the Waterfront Hotel & Casino here in what will be Magsayo's first big test in his young career.
Magsayo, 20, a bemedalled amateur fighter who is one of the best fighters to come out of the famed ALA Gym of Cebu, blitzkrieged his first ten opponents since turning pro on May 25, 2013 to register a clean 10-win slate with 8 stoppages. A double-handed attacker with great boxing fundamentals, the Bohol native who started boxing at age 8, confuses his opponents with his speed and finishes them off with his power. In Magsayo's first few fights, the venerable grand old man of ALA Gym, Antonio L. Aldeguer, advised Magsayo not to finish off his opponents earlier so he will have more exposure atop the ring.
Great expectations are planted on Magsayo's broad shoulders and if he passes tonight's test, he will most likely co-headline ALA Promotions maiden US event at the StubHub Center in Carson, California in October this year. Further down the road, Magsayo is set to headline 'Pinoy Pride' in January next year against a big name opponent possibly Fernando Montiel or Cristian Mijares for an IBF featherweight title scrap in what could become Magsayo's coming out party.
But sometimes, big plans are shattered by an opponent's powerful right cross to the jaw or a crushing left hook to the liver. So tonight Magsayo will face a highly confident and determined Mexican warrior in Rafael Reyes (16-4-0, 12KO) from Ciudad Juarez who seemed to be not very much impressed by his Filipino opponent's credentials. During Tuesday's presscon with the Cebu media, Reyes matter-of-factly said he wants to face Albert Pagara, another undefeated ALA Gym stalwart, next, after disposing Magsayo this Saturday.
Asked to react on Reyes's pronouncements, Magsayo simply said, ?He has to pass through me first.?
ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer, the one who set Magsayo's future ring engagements, was cautious on Magsayo's chances. ?Magsayo is one of our best boxers,? the young Aldeguer said. ?My father always speaks highly of him and he could be one of the future of Philippine boxing. But you'll never know how a boxer performs on a bigger stage so let's see what happens Saturday tonight.?
So, aside from the mouth-watering world title clash in tonight's main event between the Philippines' longest reigning world champ Donnie Nietes against the young former Mexican world champion Francisco Rodriguez, eyes will be on Mark 'Magnifico' Magsayo intent to see on how he performs in front of the spotlight tonight -- his first small step towards boxing stardom.
Photo: Mark 'Magnifico' Magsayo (L) and Rafael Reyes pose during Friday's weighin at SM City Cebu. Photo by Dong Secuya.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Dong Secuya.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Donaire back in Cebu
By Joaquin Henson, Fri, 23 Jan 2026MURATALLA VS. CRUZ IN LAS VEGAS FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
Fri, 23 Jan 2026Four Pinoys in line for title shots
By Joaquin Henson, Fri, 23 Jan 2026After the meeting in Mexico City, the WBC is ready for 2026
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Fri, 23 Jan 2026Former world title challenger Jerry Belmontes Returns to ring at home after nearly a decade in Retirement on January 31 in Texas
Fri, 23 Jan 2026SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT RONNY ALVAREZ TRAINING CAMP NOTES
Thu, 22 Jan 2026STRICKLAND STUNS REYES AS SOUQUET SEALS REDEMPTION | WNT LEGENDS
Thu, 22 Jan 2026Knicks defeats Nets 120-66 to post largest margin of victory in franchise history
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Thu, 22 Jan 2026Mauricio Sulaiman: "We simply urge Zuffa Boxing to respect and protect boxing and the boxer"
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Thu, 22 Jan 2026January 31: Xander Zayas-Abass Baraou Junior Middleweight Title Unification Showdown to Stream LIVE on Top Rank Classics FAST Channel in the United States
Thu, 22 Jan 2026Mike Tyson to Launch “Mike Tyson Invitational,” a Three-Day Amateur Boxing Showcase Aimed at Elevating the Future of American Boxing
Thu, 22 Jan 2026KAIPO GALLEGOS TRAINING CAMP NOTES
Thu, 22 Jan 2026REYES AND BUSTAMANTE DELIVER HOME-SOIL MASTERCLASS | WNT LEGENDS
Wed, 21 Jan 2026Reigning World 10-ball Champion Filipino cue master Jonas Magpantay to see action in Indonesia pool tourney
By Marlon Bernardino, Wed, 21 Jan 2026OLYMPIC BOXING 7: 1936 OLYMPICS AT BERLIN, GERMANY
By Maloney L. Samaco, Wed, 21 Jan 2026