MARK Magsayo had been warned Rigoberto Hermosillo is one tough Mexican hombre.
Indeed, he was.
Magsayo was made to work by Hermosillo and needed the entire 10 rounds to hack out a split decision win on Sunday (Manila time) in their featherweight tiff at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.
The Filipino struggled against the game Mexican, but landed the harder shots to get the nod of at least two of the judges by the end of the bout.
Two of them scored it 100-90 and 96-94 for the 25-year-old native of Tagbilaran, Bohol, while the other one had the 28-year-old Mexican winning it at 96-94.
Magsayo kept his record unblemished at 21-0 (14 KOs) in his first fight under trainer Freddie Roach and with new outfit MP (Manny Pacquiao) Promotions.
Hermosillo, a last-minute substitute to American Jose Haro, fell to an 11-3-1 record (8 KOs).
When everything was over, Magsayo could only heave a sigh of relief.
“I faced a tough fighter tonight, but I know I’m ready to beat anyone in the division,” said the Filipino in the post-fight presser.
“I’m happy to get this victory,” Magsayo added. “Freddie got me in great shape for this fight and I’m happy working with him.”
As what he expected, MP Promotions President Sean Gibbons knew Hermosillo won’t just go away easily.
“Tough Mexican style,” said the veteran matchmaker. “The guy just kept coming and coming.”
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