He can?t go on winning like this
By Recah Trinidad
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 26 Apr 2016
NONITO Donaire took less time to take out the game but brittle challenger from Hungary. Donaire had vowed to stop Zsolt Bedak in six rounds for the defense of his WBO super bantamweight title at the Cebu City Sports Center on Saturday.
Bedak, nose broken and bloodied, was counted out on his feet in the third round. He was on the floor a couple of times in the second round.
Donaire managed to deliver the promised fireworks; although he also scolded himself for getting a big punch on the chin early in the well-attended open-air main event.
**
With that short work, the main event was readily outshone by the top supporting bout which featured the fast-rising Mark Magsayo, a native of Tagbilaran, Bohol who?s now the hottest warrior of the famed ALA Stable in Cebu.
In the pre-fight press conference, Magsayo, 20, had been described as nothing more than a young boy by his grizzled opponent, the internationalist Chris Avalos from California.
The unbeaten Magsayo stopped the 25-year-old Avalos in the sixth round, but only after having had to get up and recover from a third-round shake-down.
**
Mark Magsayo (R) picks himself up from a third round knockdown to stop Chris Avalos (L) in the 6th round during their WBO international featherweight title bout at the Cebu City Sports Complex Saturday night.
Magsayo would explain that he got groggy, but he prayed hard and tried to get back.
There was no surrender in his eyes, noted Magsayo?s chief handler, Edmund Villamor.
Handlers and admirers were one in saying Magsayo was saved by his big heart.
**
Make that read: a big brave heart; because Magsayo, indeed, waged battle like a mindless small boy.
If his great grit and guts carried Magsayo through, his glaring defects, mainly in defense, cast a doubt on his ability to go really far--unless he first undergoes serious reformation.
Magsayo, for most of the his big Saturday night out, was a predictable slugger, who had to second-guess the target of his looping punches.
**
Pardon this, but there were dumb Magsayo exertions that resembled primitive warrior moments.
Needless to say, there?s a need for re-grooving, while there?s still time.
They should pause and review everything in a scientific and sane manner.
**
It would be of great if they, say, started the repair and reshaping now.
However, Magsayo has reportedly been booked for a big outing in the USA next September.
Hope and pray he doesn?t get a foe who?d make him perform like a sinking aspirant who never hesitates to bite the opponent?s gloves.
He can?t go on fighting the way he did on Saturday.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Recah Trinidad.
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