MAGSAYO KNOCKS OUT CEJA COLD IN 10TH
By Rich Mazon
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 22 Aug 2021
LAS VEGAS - Unbeaten Filipino featherweight challenger Mark Magsayo (22-0, 15 KOs prior to the fight) knocked former world champion Julio Ceja (32-4-1, 28 KOs) senseless in the 10th round of their WBC featherweight title eliminator in the undercard of his countryman Manny Pacquiao who will face Yordenis Ugas at the T-Mobile Arena here Saturday night (Sunday in Manila).
Two strong right hands from the fighter from Bohol, Philippines sent his Mexican opponent to sleep in a rugged and bruising battle to get the opportunity to face the current WBC champion- Gary Russell Jr.
Magsayo drew first blood with an early knockdown in Round 1. A hard left hook sent a startled Ceja down for the first time in the fight. The Mexican recovered and finished the round on his foot, bravely trying to equal the count.
In the following round Ceja then fought like a true Mexican warrior, he pursued Magsayo across the ring and rained head and body shots against a now defensive foe. His aggressiveness paid off in the 5th, when he gave the Filipino a taste of his own medicine- with a knockdown of his own, courtesy of his own left hook.
The shot that takes out Ceja in the 10th.
In the 6th, Magsayo started fast and unloaded alternating left and right hooks. He boxed more effectively in the 7th, creating some distance from his very rugged rival. He reaped success from this strategy and scored with his hooks to Ceja’s head.
Magsayo then finished the job with a highlight reel and crowd pleasing knockout 50 seconds in Round 10. He initially missed with his left but connected with a straight right which put Ceja to sleep. A follow-up right hook sent him flat in the blue canvas of the T- Mobile Arena.
Magsayo (C) celebrates with trainer Freddie Roach (L) and MP Promotions president Sean Gibbons.
The crowd let out a big wow after the knockout and Filipino fans wildly cheered for their fighter who up to this minute has been fighting a close battle against Ceja.
Magsayo remains undefeated with this victory but more importantly, a step closer to his dream of becoming a world champion, with a looming fight against Russell Jr.
You can reach the author at rrmaze24@aol.com.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rich Mazon .
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