Filipino boxer Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo has emerged victorious again after defeating Jorge “Kan” Mata of Mexico in a 10-round super featherweight bout at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
The fight was part of the undercard of the Pacquiao vs. Barrios event that was attended by thousands of boxing fans from all over the world.
Right from the start of the fight, Magsayo showed off his speed and aggressive style. In the first three rounds, he tormented Mata with a combination of hard body shots and fast footwork. Although Mata’s defense was strong, he was unable to recover from the punches that the Filipino fighter unleashed.
In the fourth round, a hard uppercut hit Mata, slightly shaking him.
Mata responded with several counterpunches, but Magsayo maintained control of the tempo of the fight.
With each round, the Filipino boxer grew more confident as he secured the score with the judges.
In the sixth round, Magsayo unleashed a series of combinations that nearly knocked Mata down. Although it didn’t end in a knockout, it was clear that Magsayo had the upper hand in the fight. The crowd gave a standing ovation to every punch that landed on Mata.
In the last three rounds, Magsayo maintained his composure and didn’t give in to the pressure. Instead, he became more tactical in his punch selection while avoiding Mata’s counters.
In round 10, both boxers were exhausted but Magsayo remained aggressive until the last second.
After the fight, Magsayo was declared the winner via unanimous decision.
All three judges scored it in his favor, with scores of 98-92, 97-93, and 99-91. With this win, his record improved to 28 wins, 2 losses, and 18 knockouts.
Jorge Mata, who had a previous record of 21-2-2, was unable to find a match for Magsayo’s speed and power. Although he was strong and fought until the end, he was outmatched in points and aggression.
The fight was considered one of the highlights of the night.
According to Magsayo, this victory is a step towards his goal of becoming a two-division world champion.
“It feels good to win, but it feels even better to know that you are getting closer to your dream,” said Magsayo in a post-fight interview in Las Vegas.
Magsayo’s win gave Filipino boxing fans renewed hope that they will see another world champion from the country.
