"Magnifico" Magasayo and "El General" Diaz are Ready for War (Weighin Photos)
By Carlos Costa
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 08 Jul 2017
Filipino rising-star Mark "Magnifico" Magsayo and opponent Daniel "El General" Diaz, successfully made 126-lbs, the limit of the featherweight division during the official weighin Friday at SM City Cebu, and now both look forward to climb the ring to see who lands the first power blow.
"Diaz can box, can punch hard, has ring experience, and has worked hard to be ready and make weight," said coach Rosendo Alvarez about Diaz.
Years ago in his prime time as a fighter, coach Alvarez was a fearsome puncher who battled the best boxing warriors in the planet, winning world titles by knock out in two weight different classes.
"We respect Magsayo as a great champion. But we can fight hard too. If Diaz loses to Magasayo, there will be no excuses," concluded coach Rosendo Alvarez, the man who battled two times legendary Ricardo "Finito" Lopez back in 1998.
Meanwhile, Magasayo, who is going through encouraging moments in his still young boxing career, hasn't fought a more experienced boxer than "El General" Diaz of Nicaragua; and this is the golden opportunity to prove that he is improving with every fight.
Magsayo and Diaz on the scales.
Magsayo and Diaz face to face.
And that better be true. Because Magsayo's unblemished record, WBO International belt and his world-rankings are all on the line of fire, A setback Saturday night would be so disappointing for "Magnifico" and his team, to say the least.
In addition, getting Magsayo as one of the top world-ranked featherweight has taken time and a superb effort. Another win is what's needed and there's full confidence he can once again deliver.
Magsayo - born in Tacloban, now training in Cebu - comes from scoring a TKO win over Tanzania journeyman Issa Nampepeche just last April. Before that, he decisioned Mexican Ramiro Robles in September of last year.
Both Magsayo and Diaz are orthodox warriors, which makes fans hope their styles will dock good and will be no accidental clash of heads as in that famous fight last week in Australia.
But even if there are accidental clash of heads or not (hopefully not), boxers are fortunate to have an experienced, proven third man as referee attorney Danrex Tapdasan.
The Magsayo vs Diaz war for Magsayo's WBO International Title is the main event in Pinoy Pride 41 to unfold at the IEC Convention Center in Mabolo, San Jose de la Monta?a Avenue, Cebu City
General Admission tickets cost 300, 200 and 100 pesos.
Magsayo and Diaz pose with their respective trainers Edito Villamor (2nd from left) and Rosendo Alvarez (2nd from right).
A stunning Cebuana beauty will be one of the ringside girls.
The author (R) poses with former champion Rosendo Alvarez.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Carlos Costa.
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