Donaire, Magsayo join forces
By Joaquin Henson
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 20 Sep 2018
Former IBF/IBO flyweight, interim WBA superflyweight, WBC bantamweight, IBF/WBO superbantamweight and WBA featherweight champion Nonito Donaire, Jr. is now training with WBO/WBC No. 1 featherweight Mark Magsayo in Las Vegas as they prepare for big fights before the year ends.
Donaire, 35, is booked to battle WBA unified bantamweight titlist Ryan Burnett of Belfast at the 13,000-seat SSE Hydro in Glasgow, Scotland, on Nov. 3 while Magsayo is being lined up by Las Vegas-based promoter Cameron Dunkin for his third US appearance next month.
Magsayo, 23, has an 18-0 record with 13 KOs, including seven in the first round. He is next in the queue as mandatory challenger of both WBO champion Oscar Valdez of Mexico and WBC titlist Gary Russell, Jr. of Washington, D. C. Magsayo is also ranked No. 7 by the IBF. He previously fought at the StubHub Center in Carson City in 2015 and 2016, winning twice.
Magsayo recently flew in to Las Vegas with wife Frances who takes care of his business affairs. His promotional rights are in question as the ALA Group of Cebu claims a live five-year contract with Magsayo who seems to have reneged on the agreement by engaging Vikram Sivapragasam of Malaysia?s Vladimir Boxing as manager and Dunkin?s brother Joe of Now Boxing as promoter. ALA president Michael Aldeguer said there is a case pending in court to resolve Magsayo?s alleged breach and once a fight date is set, his lawyers will send a legal letter to Dunkin.
Magsayo landed in Las Vegas from Manila last Sept. 12 and met with Dunkin and media during the week leading to the recent Canelo Alvarez-Gennady Golovkin bout. Donaire, who is being trained by Brandon Woods, said he?s working with Magsayo in the gym.
?Mark is very athletic and listens well,? said Donaire. ?He works hard and definitely has a big future in becoming a world champion. Mark would match up well with Valdez and it?ll be a great fight to see. I?d push Mark to fight Valdez because of the excitement of the Filipino-Mexican rivalry.?
Valdez, 27, has just recovered from a cracked jaw which he sustained in outpointing Scott Quigg. For two months, his mouth was wired shut and he could not eat solid food. But two weeks ago, he was cleared to resume boxing in the gym with no surgery required. Valdez will be ready to defend his title in December or January.
Donaire is getting ready for his showdown with Burnett whose last eight fights went the distance. Burnett, 26, has a 19-0 record with 9 KOs and isn?t known to be a devastating puncher but he?s a proficient boxer. The fight will be for Burnett?s WBA crown but it?s also a leg in the World Boxing Super Series to unify the 118-pound title. The winner of the Burnett-Donaire duel will advance to face the survivor of the Oct. 13 fight between WBO champion Zolani Tete of South Africa and Mikhail Aloyan of Russia at the Expo Center in Yekaterinburg.
Donaire?s experience will play a big role against Burnett. He has 24 more fights under his belt with a record of 38-5, including 24 KOs. But Burnett is nine years younger and the age difference could be a factor. Donaire is coming down in weight and hasn?t fought as a bantamweight since outpointing Omar Narvaez in 2011, 15 fights and seven years ago. Donaire, however, said the drop in weight is no problem. Donaire is now ranked No. 6 by the WBA, No. 7 by the WBO and No. 16 by the WBC in the bantamweight division.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Joaquin Henson.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
SPORTS SHORTS 285: AMIR KHAN ACCEPTS OFFER FOR AN EXHIBITION MATCH WITH MANNY PACQUIAO
By Maloney L. Samaco, Mon, 25 Nov 2024FOGOUM, TOSHIHIKO, KIM, RATTAWUT, RUF, CHUTINAN IN ACTION IN HIGHLAND’S EXCITING “SHOWDOWN” NOV 28 AT SPACEPLUS IN BANGKOK, THAILAND
By Carlos Costa, Mon, 25 Nov 2024Gil Robiego Co Elected New APPBRO President for 2025-2027
By Carlos Costa, Mon, 25 Nov 2024Garma wins, climbs to 8th place
By Marlon Bernardino, Mon, 25 Nov 2024Davao futsal scores 1st win
By Lito delos Reyes, Mon, 25 Nov 2024Filipino FIDE Master Mario Mangubat is the new FIDE World Senior 65 over category Rapid Champion
Sun, 24 Nov 2024Thunderdome 48 - Jude Grant vs Fano Kori
Sun, 24 Nov 2024World Boxing backs plan to create a new Confederation in Asia
Sun, 24 Nov 2024The message is clear – Asian Boxing Confederation remains united with the IBA
Sun, 24 Nov 2024OSCAR DE LA HOYA FOUNDATION HOSTS 25TH ANNUAL TURKEY GIVEAWAY FOR EAST LOS ANGELES COMMUNITY
Sun, 24 Nov 2024Life vs. Death: The Ultimate Ringside Showdown Immortalized in Pierce Egan’s Boxiana
By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, Sat, 23 Nov 2024SPORTS SHORTS 284: TEAM MARK MAGSAYO CONFIRMS RETURN TO THE RING ON DECEMBER 14
By Maloney L. Samaco, Sat, 23 Nov 2024RJP Boxing promotes in Bucana on Dec. 17
By Lito delos Reyes, Sat, 23 Nov 2024Good Prospects at Minimumweight, Light Fly, Super Bantam and Super Feather in 2025
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Sat, 23 Nov 2024Filipino International Master Chito Danilo Garma is the new World Senior Blitz champion; Filipino FIDE Master Mario Mangubat takes the bronze medal
By Marlon Bernardino, Sat, 23 Nov 2024