SPORTS SHORTS 103: MARK MAGSAYO STOPS PABLO CRUZ BY FOURTH ROUND KO, PRIMED FOR A WORLD TITLE FIGHT
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 13 Apr 2021
L-R: Cruz, Magsayo and Gibbons.
Featherweight contender Mark Magsayo has not shown the effects of one year of inactivity. He has shown great progress while trained under head coach Freddie Roach when he scored an amazing fourth round knockout of Pablo Cruz at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut.
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Magsayo began the first round by familiarizing his opponent's style by coming after him in the ring. He scored a quick knockdown in the second round with a jab. But he did not immediately go for the ending as he patiently followed the fight plan even if the foe is already harmed.
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Magsayo inflected more suffering as Cruz went down again in the third round with a barrage of blows punctuated by a powerful left hook that shook Cruz. But still Cruz was able to get up and survive the drop.
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The Filipino fighter connected his fearsome right cross to down Cruz to the canvas again just 48 seconds in the fourth stanza. Referee John Callas immediately stopped the fight to prevent another torture.
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With the KO win, Magsayo preserved his immaculate record of 22 victories, no loss with 15 stoppages. It was his first knockout victory in his last three fights. Pablo dropped his record to 21-4-0 with 6 KOs.
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On August 12, 2019 Magsayo won a unanimous decision over Thailand's Panya Uthok and on October 4, 2020 he edged Mexican American Rigoberto Hermosillo by split decision.
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Magsayo won the World Boxing Council Asian Boxing Council featherweight title by outpointing Uthok at the Bohol Wisdom School Gym before hundreds of cheering Boholanos in his hometown.
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Magsayo became WBO International featherweight titlist when he won over Chris Avalos of San Diego, California by 6th round TKO on April 23, 2016 at the Cebu City Sports Complex, Cebu City.
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He dominated Mexican Eduardo Montoya by unanimous decision on March 27, 2016 at the Waterfront Hotel & Casino, Cebu City to win the vacant WBO Youth featherweight title.
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He stopped Mexican Rafael Reyes by 5th round TKO on July 11, 2015 at the Waterfront Hotel & Casino, Cebu City to win the vacant IBF Youth featherweight title.
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Magsayo is ranked 5th by the WBC and IBF, 8th by the WBO, and 10th by the WBA putting him closer to a title fight sooner.
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Magnifico Magsayo, 25-year-old orthodox fighter from Tagbilaran City, Bohol has fought 109 rounds with a KO rate of 68.18%. Cruz, alias The Lethal Mosquito, also an orthodox boxer, age 34 years from Houston, Texas, USA, has fought 111 rounds with 24% KO rate.
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Magsayo, fought his second straight bout in the United States following his victory over Hermosillo at the Microsoft Theater, Los Angeles, California.
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Magsayo is now setting his sights on a title fight by the fourth quarter of the year or by next year possibly against either of the champions Emanuel Navarrete of the World Boxing Organization, Leo Sta. Cruz of the World Boxing Association and Gary Russel Jr of the World Boxing Council.
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NBA Eastern Conference Standings
TEAMWL PCT
BrooklynNets36-17 .679
Philadelphia 76ers 36-17 .679
Milwaukee Bucks 33-20.623
Atlanta Hawks 29-25 .537
Miami Heat 28-25 .528
Boston Celtics 28-26 .519
Charlotte Hornets 27-25 .519
New York Knicks 27-27 .500
Indiana Pacers 25-27 .481
Chicago Bulls 22-30 .423
Toronto Raptors 21-33 .389
Washington Wizards 19-33 .365
Cleveland Cavaliers 19-34 .358
Orlando Magic 17-36 .321
Detroit Pistons 16-38 .296
* * *
NBA Western Conference Standings
TEAMWL PCT
Utah Jazz 40-13 .755
Phoenix Suns 37-15 .712
Los Angeles Clippers 37-18 .673
Denver Nuggets 34-19.642
Los Angeles Lakers 33-20.623
Portland Trail Blazers 31-22 .585
Dallas Mavericks 29-23 .558
Memphis Grizzlies 26-25 .510
San Antonio Spurs 25-26 .490
Golden State Warriors 25-28 .472
New Orleans Pelicans 24-29.453
Sacramento Kings 22-31.415
Oklahoma City Thunder 20-33 .377
Houston Rockets 14-39.264
Minnesota Timberwolves 14-40.259
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There is no official medal tables in the Olympic Games. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) does not recognize a medal ranking per country. That is why accurate totals by nation are difficult to determine because until 1908 athletes joined the Olympics as individuals rather than as members of a national team.
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There are also instances when athletes from different nations joined forces in team sports. Olympic medal standings is based on the number of medals won, with gold medals given priority over silver and bronze. A team victory counts as one medal.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
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