By Al S. Mendoza

 

MARK “Magnifico” Magsayo is the latest Filipino to win a world boxing crown.

He did that on Sunday (Jan. 23), beating Gary Russell Jr. on points in Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA.

Joining Magsayo as reigning Filipino world champions are Ancajas, Donaire, Casimiero and Nietes.

Magsayo, from Tagbilaran City, Bohol, is called “Magnifico” (magnificent) because, early on in his career, he would knock out foes almost with the speed of lightning.

I’ve seen him do that several times.

Oftentimes, like Mike Tyson in his prime, Magsayo would finish off his opponents in one round.

And, mostly, his early rivals would fall within three rounds.  Like Tyson again in his heyday.

That is why Magsayo easily earned the moniker “Magnifico”—deservedly, of course.

And I like it.  Love it.  I had approved of it without any hesitation.

But on Sunday, Magsayo was not that magnificent in New Jersey.

Yes, he won, but the way he carved it was sorely lacking with finesse.

There was hardly a fraction of his magnificence.

Unlike in his last fight only last August wherein he knocked Julio Ceja out with his vaunted punching power in the 10th round, Magsayo was short of being mediocre against Russell on Sunday.

In fact, he was lucky to have escaped with a majority decision win.

Lynne Carter scored that fight 114-114.  A draw.  She is justified to be honest.

So unconvincing was Magsayo that he was fortunate to earn the winning 115-113 scores from the other two judges.

Had Magsayo lost to Russell on points, I would not have opposed it.

He was so un-magnificent that a win for Russell could have been justified.

Look, Russell climbed the ring already in pain. He admitted it himself before the fight.

Then in the fourth round, Magsayo aggravated Russell’s injury when he jarred the American’s hurting right shoulder.

As a result, Russell, 33, was reduced to a one-armed fighter.

Wonder of wonders that the defending champion survived not getting knocked out from the fifth up to the 12th and final round.

That’s the reason I’m so piqued.

Magsayo is a famed power puncher and yet, he dismayed everybody by failing to knock out Russell, who was fighting with only one healthy hand three-fourths of the way.

So Magsayo won, all right, but his celebration doesn’t deserve to be full-blast.

OK, Russell is skillful, knows how to duck and weave to avoid Magsayo’s killer blows.

But for Magsayo to miss landing the haymaker the last eight rounds is simply unacceptable.

Surely, Russell is not the reincarnation of Houdini the famed escape artist?

Magsayo is now a world champion but by missing to inflict the first ever knockout loss in 35 fights to Russell (33-2, win-loss), who was already rendered as practically a defenseless one-armed PWD in the fourth round, that tells a lot.

Now unbeaten in 24 fights, Magsayo should have made Russell his 17th knockout customer in capturing the World Boxing Council featherweight crown (126 lbs).

Thus, Magsayo, 26, needs to redeem himself by knocking out the challenger in his first title defense.  I demand.

Otherwise, I will change his moniker from “Magnifico” to “Magnipeke.”

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