‘This is my division’: Magsayo stops McCrory in smashing lightweight debut

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Mark Magsayo, the pride of Tagbilaran, Bohol, wins his first lightweight bout with a sound beating of former world title challenger Feargal McCrory

MANILA, Philippines – Mark Magsayo carried his speed and power in the lightweight division with a fifth-round technical knockout of Irish Feargal McCrory on Sunday, April 5 (Monday, April 6, Manila time) at the Meta APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Nearly knocking out McCrory in the fourth round, Magsayo continued to land clean punches in the fifth, prompting the Irish’s corner to step in and stop the punishment 21 seconds into the round.

Magsayo, pride of Tagbilaran, Bohol, and now based in San Diego, California, caught McCrory with a looping right to the chin coming in, sending the former world title challenger stumbling to the ropes late in the fourth round.

The 30-year-old Magsayo sneaked in more jarring rights, but McCrory plodded forward and survived, for a while.

After the surrender, Magsayo did his customary somersault and threw rapid punches in the air to celebrate his 29th win, 19 by knockout, against two losses. McCrory, a former world title challenger, fell to 17-2 with 9 knockouts.

In the post-fight interview, an ecstatic Magsayo said, “Big difference, the weight, the training camp, the sparring, and everything. I’m strong. I’m powerful. This is my division. This is my prime. This is my weight (135 pounds). Let’s go!”

Magsayo, now under Zuffa Boxing, is being groomed to fight unbeaten Andres Cortes (25-0, 13 knockouts), who beat Eridson Garcia, in the headliner of the eight-fight card.

Showing more bounce and energy, Magsayo landed a big right early and then closed the first round with a right to the body.

Magsayo also controlled the second and third with crisp rights, even as McCrory desperately tried to bore in. – Rappler.com