WHILE Manny Pacquiao’s ring comeback fell short of victory, compatriots Eumir Felix Marcial and Mark Magsayo made the most of their chances at MGM Grand Arena, posting contrasting wins over their respective foes yesterday at the boxing mecca in the US gambling capital of Las Vegas.
Coming off a nearly year-long layoff since competing in the Paris Olympics, Marcial, 29, was impressive as he scored his sixth straight win as a pro, stopping tough American veteran Bernard Joseph, 35, in the third round of their light middleweight bout in the undercard.
Marcial had Joseph in trouble in the second round before landing a left hook following a series of combinations in one minute and 55 seconds of the third round in claiming his fourth knockout victim.
Magsayo, 30, went the full distance before fashioning a unanimous decision win over Mexico’s Jorge Mata in their clash for the vacant WBC Continental Americas super featherweight belt.
The former world featherweight champ used his ring smarts in dictating the tempo of the match against the younger and aggressive Mata, 24, to win the nod of all three judges.
Mike Fitzgerald and Jack Reiss saw it both at 100-90, while Glenn Feldman had it 98-92 all in favor of “Magnifico,” who picked up his 28th triumph (18 KOs) against two losses.
