Magsayo rises off canvas to stop Avalos in war

CEBU, Philippines – Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo stamped his ballot as the the next action star from the Philippines with a dramatic sixth round technical knockout win over American contender Chris Avalos at Cebu City Sports Center on Saturday, April 23. 

The corner towel came in just as referee Danrex Tapdasan stepped between the fighters at the 1:55 mark to spare Avalos from further damage in a 12-round preliminary bout to the Nonito Donaire Jr vs Zsolt Bedak WBO junior featherweight championship main event.

The 20-year-old Magsayo (14-0, 11 knockouts) of Tagbilaran City, Bohol started the fight on as high a note as he could have hoped for, beating the battle-tested Avalos (26-5, 19 KOs) to the punch and battering him around the ring in round two nearly to the point of stoppage.  

Mark Magsayo batters Chris Avalos to a 6th round knockout in the Fight of the Year! #rstream #boxing pic.twitter.com/GoPR7b25SZ

— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) April 23, 2016

But Avalos, 26, of Lancaster, California, did not travel across the Pacific Ocean to lay down. The former world title challenger stormed back in round 3, putting Magsayo on his back with a short left hook across the chin. Magsayo rose up on unsteady legs and seemed unaware of how to clinch and survive.

Magsayo seemed on the verge of collapse whenever he absorbed right hands from Avalos and was still on unsteady legs in round 4 as he continued to take big shots from the heavy-handed American. 

By round 5 Magsayo had his legs back, and so too did his power return. Magsayo’s left hook, which had served him well in the first two rounds, began to connect with regularity once again. Magsayo rocked Avalos once again near the end of round 5 and took a handful of punches which had him out on his feet to end the round. 

Avalos’ corner was slow to get their fighter off the stool, and may have benefited from a few additional seconds between rounds. He was still out on his feet however, and the end came shortly after as Magsayo wildly barrelled towards him with both hands firing.  

Don’t be surprised if you hear about this fight again later on when Fight of the Year discussions take place. – Rappler.com