LAS VEGAS – Former world champion Mark Magsayo was forced to go the distance, but emerged victorious nonetheless against tough Mexican Jorge Mata in their 10-round non-title super-featherweight bout on Saturday night (Sunday, Manila time).
The 30-year-old Filipino controlled majority of the fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, though he couldn’t put Mata away despite throwing strong combinations against his younger opponent time and time again.
READ Eumir Marcial stops Joseph in 3rd round in triumphant ring return
In the end, Magsayo had to settle for a unanimous decision, getting the nod of the three judges by scores of 100-92 twice (Mike Fitzgerald and Jack Reiss) and 98-92 (Glenn Feldman).
His victory made it 2-0 for Filipino fighters in the undercard of the Manny Pacquiao-Mario Barrios World Boxing Council welterweight championship fight.
Earlier, two-time Olympian Eumir Marcial hammered out a third round TKO win against American Joseph Bernard.
Magsayo, the former WBC featherweight title holder, now holds a 28-2 record with 18 KOs and lined himself up for a possible title eliminator match against Michael Magnesi of Italy.
The native of Tagbilaran, Bohol is currently ranked No. 2 by the WBC, while Magnesi is rated No. 3.
American O’Shaquie Foster is the current champion in the 130-pound division.
Mata saw his record fell to 21-3-2 with 13 KOs, yet the Mexican proved to be a tough customer for the Filipino fighter who goes by the moniker "Magnifico.'
The 5-foot-5 Mata took the best Magsayo threw at him, surviving a fourth round assault by the Filipino including a perfectly set up right uppercut that wobbled the Mexican for a while.
He had his best round in the eigth when he connected on several powerful jabs against an obviously fading Magsayo.
In the end though, the Filipino was just too good for Mata to overcome.
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