MANILA, Philippines – Former world champion Mark Magsayo proved he’s ready for another title crack with a second-round demolition of Bryan Mercado on Saturday, December 14 (Sunday, December 15, Philippine time) at the Thunder Studios in Long Beach, California.
The Filipino power-hitter dropped the overmatched Ecuadorian twice in the first round — with a left hook to the body followed by another left to the head.
Mercado tried to buy time by dropping his mouthguard while being given the count, but it didn’t work as Magsayo tagged him anew seconds after the fight resumed. Magsayo, the 2022 World Boxing Council (WBC) featherweight king, was going for the kill when the bell rang.
Propped up in the second round, Magsayo landed another body shot and Mercado nearly got counted out. There was no stopping Magsayo this time, however, as he landed a left straight to the face that forced the referee to stop the beating at the 28-second mark.
Magsayo — who did his customary backflip after the stoppage of the six-round super featherweight tussle — raised his record to 27 wins against 2 losses with 18 knockouts. Mercado slid to 11-7 with 6 knockouts.
Training hard under Marvin Somodio, Magsayo tipped the scales at 133.8 pounds during the official weigh-in where Mercado came in at 134.4.
MP Promotions head Sean Gibbons, who charts Magsayo’s career, has requested for a world title eliminator between the pride of Tagbilaran, Bohol, and Mexican Eduardo Hernandez during the 62nd WBC Convention in Hamburg, Germany.
The 29-year-old Magsayo, now based in Los Angeles, is ranked No. 3 by the WBC and Hernandez No. 2. The other option for Magsayo is to go for the super featherweight belts of the World Boxing Organization (WBO), where he is rated No. 3, the World Boxing Association (WBA), where he’s No. 4, or the International Boxing Federation (IBF), where he’s No. 5.
Magsayo has repeatedly said he will face anybody to become world champion again. – Rappler.com
