Marcial puts money on Magsayo
TOKYO Olympics bronze medalist Eumir Felix Marcial is betting a few bucks on fellow Filipino Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo, who will challenge World Boxing Council featherweight champion Gary Russell Jr.
That’s how confident the 30-year-old middleweight boxer from Zamboanga City is on Magsayo’s chances in the world title set on Sunday at the Borgata Hotel Casino in Atlantic City.
Marcial flew to Los Angeles on Monday evening to resume his pro career in the US. But before entering Terminal 2 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, he asked if he could find a sports betting station in his destination.
“Is there one in LA?” Marcial asked Businessmirror.
Magsayo is the underdog in the fight—5/2 +250 over a 2/7 or -344, according to betting site Box.Live, which gave the 33-yearold Russell Jr. a 73.07 winning percentage to Magsayo’s 26. 93 percent in the 12-round contest.
Despite the odds, Marcial picked Magsayo.
“I trust Mark that he will win because he’s stronger, he’s faster than Russell and his desire to finally become a world champion is very obvious,” Marcial said. “His punching power is also there, he’s thirsty for the world title.”
Magsayo is undefeated in 23 bouts highlighted by 16 knockouts—including a brutal 10th-round stoppage of Mexican Julio Ceja last August in Las Vegas. Russell, on the other hand, is 31-1 won-lost record with 18 knockouts.
But Marcial isn’t predicting a knockout. “You’ll never know because they are both good fighters,” he said. “It’s very difficult though to predict what type of win or in what round, but I believe Mark will win this fight.” Marcial, however, will have to watch the fight on TV either by his lonesome or with fellow boxers in his Los Angeles apartment. The Tokyo Games bronze medalist, according to MP Promotions President Sean Gibbons, will train at the Wildcard Gym under Freddie Roach, Marvin Somodio and strength and conditioning coach Memo Heredia.
Gibbons and Senator Manny Pacquiao’s eldest son Jimuel will be flying from Atlantic City on Thursday to join Marcial.