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WBC Asia featherweight champion Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo is fully aware that he needs to be careful in making decisions. That includes joining a new promotion.
Most know what he went through. Magsayo’s boxing career was stalled for about two years following a contract dispute with his former handlers.
“Alam niyo naman po nangyari sa akin. 2 years po ako nahirapan. But I never stopped training,” Magsayo said in an exclusive. (“You know what happened to me. I struggled for 2 years but I never stopped training”)
Things changed last year when the 5-foot-6 pug from Tagbilaran City got his boxing career back on track. Magsayo fought at “Pride of Bohol” in August, carving out a unanimous decision win over Thai opponent Panya Uthok. This allowed him to claim the WBC Asia featherweight title.
Training with Freddie Roach
Magsayo is back in training and will now be under famed boxing coach Freddie Roach over at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood, California. He says that his training camp will be handled by the 59-year-old coach from here on.
“Si coach Freddie (Roach) na official coach ko. All my training camp under na niya,” said Magsayo. (“Coach Freddie (Roach) will be my official coach. All my training will be handled by him”)
No Decision Yet On New Handler
Magsayo made it clear that he has yet to sign with a new promotion. He says that news of him being promoted by MP promotions is misleading.
“Namimili pa ako ng promoter ngayon. Gusto ko mamili ng mabuti ngayon. Pinag-iisipan ko ng mabuti,” said Magsayo. (“I am still deciding on the promoter and I want to make sure I choose wisely this time. I am thinking about it carefully”)
He said that there are multiple groups talking to him although he cannot divulge the names for now.
Magsayo does reveal that one of them is MP Promotions. He and Sean Gibbons will be sitting down to discuss when he returns to the Philippines in February.
“Sean Gibbons of MP said he wants to talk to me when we come home. I said okay,” Magsayo said.
Search on for Conditioning Coach
It will be a short return for Magsayo to the Philippines. He says he will return to resume training with Roach afterward. The pride of Bohol added that they have yet to select a conditioning coach.
“Pati po sa conditioning ko, sa Wild Card na. Pero namimili pa din kami ng conditioning coach,” he said. (Even my conditioning, it will be at Wild Card now. But we have yet to choose a conditioning coach”)
When asked on future fights, Magsayo said nothing is set for now.
“Once I sign with a promoter, then I’ll know. Pero for now, tuloy-tuloy training ko,” Magsayo ended. (Once I sign with a promoter, then I’ll know. For now, I will continue to train”)
