Magsayo, aagawin ang korona kay Russel sa Enero 22

ni Gerard Arce - @Sports | January 14, 2022

Matagal na panahon din ang hinintay ni Filipino featherweight title challenger para maisakatuparan ang pagtuntong sa World title fight na paniguradong masusubukan sa kontra kay WBC featherweight champion Gary Russel Jr. sa main event bout sa Enero 22 sa Bogata Atlantic City sa New Jersey.

Dumating ang pinakahihintay na pagkakataon para sa 26-anyos na tubong Tacloban, Leyte na matupad ang matagal na pinapangarap na world title shot matapos ang kagila-gilalas na knockout victory kontra sa dating world titlist na si Julio Ceja ng Mexico nung Agosto 21 via 10th round KO sa undercard match nina Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao at Yordenis “54 Milagros” Ugas ng Cuba sa T-Mobile Arena sa Las Vegas.

Itinalagang mandatory challenger si Magsayo (23-0, 16KOs) laban sa Amerikanong long-time WBC 126-pound title holder na si Russell Jr. (31-1, 18KOs) at umaasang maiuuwi niya ang korona para sa bansa.

“I respect Gary Russell Jr., he’s a great champion, but I’m winning this fight on January 22. I want to prove to the people everywhere that I’m the best featherweight in the world,” pahayag ni Magsayo sa ginanap na virtual press-conference nitong Miyerkules ng umaga. “I’m going to show the world that I’m the best at this weight. This is the fight that I’ve wanted for a long time. I’ve been waiting patiently for my chance and I’m ready to do my best.”

Aminado ang 33-anyos na tubong Washington D.C. na malakas ang kamao at bitaw n suntok ng undefeated No.1 contender, ngunit dapat siguraduhin umano ni Magsayo na tatama ang kanyang mga suntok, lalo pa’t nakita na rin nito ang kahinaan sa nakalipas na laban.

“I see him as a good even-handed puncher, maybe he leans a little more to the right hand. He has good punching power, but none of that matters if you can’t hit your target,” wika ni Russel sa parehong event.

“I don’t have any concerns with Magsayo’s power. You very seldom see me have to come back on the scorecards. Magsayo had to come back in his last fight because he was losing on the cards. That shows some holes in his armor.”

Sinagot naman ni Magsayo ang sinasabing butas sa depensa nito na nakita ni Russel sa nagdaang laban kontra kay Ceja, kung saan naghabol ito sa puntusan at nagawa pang mapaluhod at mabilangan sa 5th round bunga ng kumbinasyong kaliwang hook at kanang uppercut. Hindi pa umano nakatapat ng katulad ni Magsayo si Russel sa kanyang 13-years napakikipagbuntalan.

“I learned a lot from the Ceja fight. That gave me a lesson on how to adjust in the middle of a fight. It’s going to help me against Russell,” ani Magsayo sa pressure style na atake na ginawa sa kanya ni Ceja. “I don’t think Gary has faced anyone since he became champion that has the skills that I have. I’m going to go in there to show him something he’s never seen before and we’ll see how he reacts.”

Unang beses nahawakan ni Russel ang kanyang titulo nung Marso 28, 2015 laban kay Mexican Jhonny Gonzalez via 4th round TKO victory. Buhat nito ay naidepensa niya ang kanyang titulo kina Patrick Hyland ng Ireland, Oscar Escandon ng Colombia, Joseph Diaz, Kiko Martinez ng Spain, at unanimous decision win kay Tugstsogt Nyambayar ng Mongolia nung Pebrero 8, 2020 sa PPL Center sa Allentown, Pennsylvania.