LOS ANGELES ? Filipino rising star Mark 'Magnifico' Magsayo, fresh from his first round knockout win last Saturday at the StubHub Center in Carson, CA against then undefeated prospect Yardley Suarez of Mexico, says he wants former world champion Abner Mares for his next opponent in the US.
In an interview by Philboxing's Jhay Otamias at the Los Angeles international airport Monday night before Magsayo and other ALA boxers boarded their flight back home to the Philippines, Magsayo said he wants to face the very best in the featherweight division, the likes of Mares and WBO world featherweight champion Vasyl Lomachenko of Ukraine.
Mares (29-2-1, 15KO), from nearby Montebello, lost to Leo Santa Cruz last Aug. 29 for the WBA super world featherweight title but he had an impressive string of victories against some of the very best in the division including Vic Darchinyan, Joseph Agbeko (twice), Anselmo Moreno and Daniel Ponce de Leon. His only other loss was against Jhonny Gonzalez where Mares lost his WBC featherweight title.
Magsayo, 20, who had more than 200 amateur fights capped with four gold medals won in national competitions, has racked up 12 victories, 10 by knockouts, since turning pro on May 25, 2013. With refined boxing skills who throws rapid fire combinations and with power in both hands, Magsayo has racked up impressive knockout win but none of those was more electrifying than his last fight where he did not give any breathing space to the totally shocked Mexican-American Yardley Saurez (13-1-0, 8KO) right from the get go. As a result, Magsayo, who performed exceptionally well in the bigger stage and to a much wider audience, has caught the attention of boxing fans and experts alike.
?Yes, I want to face Mares in my next fight in America,? Magsayo told Otamias in the vernacular.
In the same interview, ALA Gym manager Edito Villamor cautioned that it is up to the ALA management who they will pick as Magsayo's next opponent but he agreed that Magsayo can be matched with any of the elite names in the division and that ?a Mares-Magsayo fight will be an exciting fight.?
Top photo: Magsayo (R) knocks down Yardley Suarez at the StubHub center last Satuday during the Pinoy Pride 33 boxing event.
Below is the video interview of Mark Magsayo and trainer Edito Villamore by Jhay Otamias:
