Boholano Magsayo shines in lightweight debut

Sports

BOHOLANO fighter Mark Magsayo is ready to conquer the lightweight division.

The pride of Tagbilaran City, Bohol delivered a stellar performance in his debut in the 135-pound division, pulling off a fifth-round technical knockout (TKO) over Ireland’s Feargal McCrory in their non-title duel over the weekend at the Meta Apex in Las Vegas, USA.

Magsayo’s punching power was in full display, wobbling McCrory several times before the referee stepped in and called a halt to the fight with 21 seconds left in the fifth round.

“It was a good stoppage. He took a lot of my punches, my power,” Magsayo said in a post-fight interview.

It was Magsayo’s fifth straight win since losing to Brandon Figueroa for the World Boxing Council (WBC) interim featherweight title in 2023.

Magsayo preserved the streak in his first fight under Zuffa Boxing, the promotion led by UFC president Dana White.

“Zuffa Boxing is a big platform for me,” said Magsayo, who improved to 29W-2L, 19KOs while pulling McCrory down to 17W-2L, 9KOs.

Against McCrory, the 30-year-old Magsayo fought like a more disciplined fighter.

“I think it comes with age and weight. I matured as a fighter,” he said.

Magsayo added that he is in his best elements, declaring that he is the fighter to beat in the lightweight division.

“I am the best in my division right now. This is my prime, this is my weight. There are a lot of good fighters in the division but for me, I’m the best,” Magsayo declared.

The WBC featherweight champion also expressed readiness to take on anyone as he aspires to become a world champion again.

“I can fight anybody,” he said.(CCM)