MAGSAYO TAKES A STEP BACK FIGHT AGAINST ROBLES
By Dong Secuya
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 23 Sep 2016
CARSON, CA ? ALA Gym's undefeated ring sensation Mark 'Magnifico' Magsayo who won a grueling six round stoppage over highly regarded veteran Chris Avalos last April 23 in Cebu, will defend his WBO International featherweight title against last minute replacement Ramiro Robles of Mexico considered to be several notches below Magsayo's level of competition on the main undercard of the Nietes-Sosa WBO inter-continental flyweight championship at the StubHub Center here on Saturday.
Robles (13-5-1, 8KO) only knew he would be fighting in California last Friday, Sep. 16, after Magsayo's original opponent, Ruben Garcia, backed out due to a reported injury. He knew nothing who Magsayo was and only come to know tidbits about him when he arrived in the US Tuesday.
Robles, who in his last several fights fought as a bantamweight, super bantamweight and featherweight, told Philboxing on Wednesday that ?my ideal fighting weight is at super bantam? (122 lbs).
But taking fights on short notice is not new to Robles who accepted similar fights against undefeated rising featherweights Joseph Diaz and Diego de la Hoya and super bantam Oscar Negrete, all fights he lost.
Magsayo (14-0-0, 11KOs) who will make his second appearance at StubHub, is cautious, and said he saw the fights of Robles on video. ?He's a good boxer and likes to come forward and engaged so I have to be careful,? Magsayo said. Surely, Magsayo, who has trained for more than three months for this fight, is several notches up in readiness and judging from how soft Robles's midsection when Philboxing interviewed him on Wednesday, the danger here is not for Magsayo to lose but for Robles to get hurt badly from Magsayo's patented two-fisted attack.
Robles, however, was able to finish the rounds against Diaz, De La Hoya and Negrete, fights that he said he accepted on short notice, that he all lost by decision. So maybe there is inner toughness on Robles's pudgy appearance. We'll see on Saturday.
ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer told Philboxing earlier that Magsayo, after this weekend's fight, will headline a January card in Cebu against an established and well-known opponent, projected to be Magsayo's coming out party.
L-R: Arthur Villanueva, Mark Magsayo, Carson councilman Elito Santarina and Donnie Nietes during Thursday's press conference of the Philippines vs Mexico boxing event held at the Carson Community Hall in Carson, CA. Photo by Dong Secuya.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Dong Secuya.
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