WHY did Mark Magsayo fail to knock Gary Russell Jr. out on Sunday?
Russell was not 100 percent fit to fight, his right shoulder hurting when he climbed the ring in Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA.
Magsayo aggravated the injury when he got it jarred in the fourth, rendering the 33-year-old American a virtual one-armed target for dessert from the fifth up to the 12th and final round.
Magsayo was, therefore, easily poised to make Russell his 17th knockout victim in this his 24th undefeated fight—his first crack at a world crown.
And Russell truly faced the specter of a second loss in 34 fights to lose his World Boxing Council (WBC) featherweight belt—by stoppage at that since Magsayo is a famed knockout artist.
But, alas, there was no knockout. Not even a knockdown.
OK, Russell was constantly a moving target, ducking and weaving consistently to baffle, if not oftentimes waylay, Magsayo.
And in so doing, Russell actually exposed yet again Magsayo’s immaturity, or his lack of savvy required of a king befitting a world crown adorning his head.
Magsayo’s shots, connecting 150 against Russell’s expectedly measly 69, were mostly off the mark—a flaw that must be fixed quick if the Bohol-born 26-year-old is to warm his throne a bit longer.
If you can’t pin down a foe fighting with only one healthy hand—even snatching the win by a mere majority decision—you have no business calling yourself a world champion.
But your first defense should do it, Mark. Meaning, put your challenger to sleep. Please.
Otherwise, I’ll drop your moniker, “Magnifico.”
THAT’S IT Saying it’s final, pole vault star EJ Obiena on Monday said he is not joining the mediation process initiated by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC). PSC chair Butch Ramirez took it in stride, saying peace-making has “no deadline.” In skipping the mediation for the second time, Obiena said: “I believe in mediation as a tool for peace and I have full trust…in Chairman Ramirez. Unfortunately, it seems that Mr. Juico (track & field chief) is into mediation in bad faith and is using it…to silence me and to keep the truth hidden.” Juico has publicly accused Obiena of manipulating the liquidation of salary payments to Obiena’s Ukrainian coach Vitaly Petrov. Obiena, the world No. 5 and Asia’s record-holder, has denied the charge and buttressed his position by citing Petrov’s affidavit that he received his P4.8-million salaries from 2018 to 2021. Obiena, based in Formia, Italy, is set to participate in Europe’s indoor season on Saturday in Germany. Is Juico sanctioning Obiena’s outing?