Magsayo Wins a Close One

It wasn’t the way it was supposed to go for Mark Magsayo’s debut under MP Promotions, but a win is a win. This sums up the close split decision win that Magsayo (21-0, 14KOs) scored over late sub Rigoberto Hermosillo (11-3, 8KOs) at the Microsoft Theater yesterday morning (Philippine time). Judge Zachary Young scored the bout for Magsayo, 96-94, while Lou Moret had it for Hermosillo, 96-94. Rudy Barragan scored it 100-90 for Magsayo, failing to credit Hermosillo for winning a single round, a score that raised more questions than answers among boxing fans.

In a fight that had both boxers busy and engaged in a tactical fight, Magsayo appeared to have scored the more telling blows even if Hermosillo landed more punches. Based on the TV stats of the fight’s broadcaster FS1, Hermosillo outpunched Magsayo, 181-136, but the Boholano was more accurate, landing 33% of his punches (136/417) against the 21% (181/856) of the US-based Mexican. It was a close fight that could’ve gone either way as reflected in the scorecards of Young and Moret. But Barragan’s 10-0 shutout for Magsayo was a source of questions.

The win for Magsayo kicks off his campaign in the United States under MP Promotions. The former ALA boxer had been in limbo of sorts after leaving the ALA Boxing Gym and Promotions, and was idle for the whole of 2018. He scored two wins in 2019 but these were one-sided. The Hermosillo fight should be an eye-opener for Magsayo as he looked a bit rusty. He wasn’t throwing the combinations for which he is known and settled for throwing single bombs. He also seemed to have difficulty against the taller southpaw who fought like any typical tough Mexican who always comes at you and doesn’t know how to go on reverse. Magsayo also had the bad habit of always fixing his trunks, tugging on the garter/waist line area repeatedly throughout the fight in what looked like a wardrobe issue. This had affected both his timing, ability to throw of punches and defense.

Magsayo acknowledged that his opponent was tough in a Facebook post. “Ang kalaban natin ibang level na po siguro; nasanay lang din po tayo siguro na tutumba agad ang kalaban kaya nageexpect ng KO ang karamihan. Pero para sa akin at coaches masaya kami kasi may mga naimprove na ako sa dati ko galaw,” he said.

Ranked fourth by both the World Boxing Association and International Boxing Federation, Magsayo is expected to be given two to three more fights before going for a world championship. But fights like those against Hermosillo should wake him up to train even harder and make him realize that all of his future opponents won’t go down easily and will surely be even tougher.

Photo: Magsayo at the weigh-in of the fight. (Mark Magnifico Magsayo Facebook Page)