Good fight, but where?s the killer punch?
By Recah Trinidad
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 29 Nov 2017
IT would not be fair to call it a great fight. Nor confirm the unbeaten Mark Magpayo of the ALA Stable as magnificent.
They were able to serve a competitive bout in Pinoy Pride 43 over the weekend. The huge hometown crowd in Tagbilaran, Bohol was visibly delighted.
Magsayo, 22, second-ranked contender for the WBO world featherweight crown, retained his International featherweight title with a unanimous decision win over Shota Hiyashi, 30, a former Japanese domestic featherweight champion.
**
Hiyashi, brought in as a trial horse, proved better than advertised. He pushed Magsayo to the limit. At the same time, the tough veteran Japanese warrior helped expose weak spots in Magsayo?s game, mainly in defense.
Magsayo claimed after the bout that he had never promised a knockout win.
His adoring townmates did not seem to mind that he could only deliver a so-so points victory.
But farther away from Tagbilaran, there was a gasp of collective disbelief, if not disappointment, after Magsayo failed to produce a single knockdown.
Magsayo?s record now stands at 18-0, with 13 KOs. He has has been peddled off as a knockout sensation.
?Saan napunta knockout niya, what happened?? cried Joel Negro, a keen and avid boxing spectator from the Hulo fish market in Mandaluyong City. Out in the city wet market sports hub, fight fans started wondering if it would be wise to immediately push the well-hyped Magsayo toward a challenge for the world crown.
**
There?s no denying Magsayo, who had also been wild and reckless inside the ring, has considerably improved. He has displayed amusing rhythm, and a measure of control.
On the whole though, there were loose moments when he would leave himself an open target, preferring to stay tough-necked in the middle while trying to score big.
Magsayo might need a few more big fights in order to mature.
**
So when could we know if he qualify to fight for a world crown?
?We won?t know until he fights one of the world champions,? said Dong Secuya, founder and chief editor of philboxing.com, lead world boxing web site.
?We know he has the potential,? he added. ?Hopefully he will not end up like Jason Pagara who has more than 40 wins but has yet to fight a top-caliber fighter.?
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Recah Trinidad.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Crawford Refutes #3 P4P Ranking; WBA Doesn't Forget Nonito Donaire
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Tue, 17 Jun 2025GM John Paul Gomez joins Touchmove in Roxas City
By Marlon Bernardino, Tue, 17 Jun 2025Perfect foe, perfect outcome
By Joaquin Henson, Tue, 17 Jun 2025Prospects Collide Results: Rajon Chance Defeats Yan Carlos Perez
Tue, 17 Jun 2025Undefeated Russian super middleweight Petr “The Surgeon” Khamukov to headline This Friday in Long Beach on DAZN
Tue, 17 Jun 2025International Boxing & MMA Consultants Appointed to serve as El Salvador Professional Combat Sport Commission
Tue, 17 Jun 2025Sasotize teams champion and 1st runner up in 2nd JCI Senate Chess Tourney
By Marlon Bernardino, Tue, 17 Jun 2025USA Boxing’s Elite High Performance Team Concluded World Boxing Championship 2025 With Nine Medals
Mon, 16 Jun 2025"The Filipino Flash" Nonito Donaire Makes Stunning Comeback, Wins Interim WBA 118-lbs Title in Argentina!! (PHOTOS)
By Carlos Costa, Sun, 15 Jun 2025DAZN is Set to Make Exciting Debut in Thailand with Thrilling Dream Boxing/Highland Boxing Show
By Carlos Costa, Sun, 15 Jun 2025Hitchins Dominates, Stops Kambosos Jr. in Eighth Round to Retain IBF Super Lightweight Title
By Dong Secuya, Sun, 15 Jun 2025THAI SIMSRI READY FOR CHRISTIAN ARANETA IN IBF WORLD TITLE SHOWDOWN THURSDAY IN JAPAN; WILL THE CEBUANO “BOMB” STOP HIM?
By Carlos Costa, Sun, 15 Jun 2025Pinoy Power! Pacquiao, Donaire, and Araneta Ready to Shine in World Title Fights
By Carlos Costa, Sun, 15 Jun 2025“PROSPECTS COLLIDE” TAKES CENTER STAGE
Sun, 15 Jun 2025Nonito Donaire Favorite to Beat Andrés Campos for WBA Interim World Title; Both Men Make Weight Ready in Argentina!
By Carlos Costa, Sat, 14 Jun 2025