TWO Filipino boxers delivered impressive victories on the undercard of Manny Pacquiao’s much-anticipated comeback fight against WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios, Saturday night (Sunday, Manila time) at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Olympic bronze medalist Eumir Marcial marked his return to the professional ring with a dominant performance, stopping American opponent Bernard Joseph in the third round of their middleweight clash.
Marcial showcased his power and precision, knocking down Joseph in the second round before ending the fight at the 1:55 mark of the third with a crushing right hook followed by a barrage of combinations. The referee stepped in as Joseph hit the canvas for the second time, sealing Marcial’s sixth professional win.
The victory was a strong statement from Marcial, who bounced back after a disappointing run in the 2024 Paris Olympics where he fell short of the podium.
Marcial, now 6-0 with four knockouts, expressed his gratitude in a Facebook post following the win: "Maraming salamat sa inyong lahat. This victory is not just mine, it’s ours!"
Former WBC featherweight world champion Mark Magsayo also came out victorious, earning a unanimous decision win over Mexico’s Jorge Mata Cuellar in a super featherweight bout.
Magsayo controlled the pace and outboxed Cuellar throughout the 10-round contest, earning wide scores from the judges: 100-90, 100-90, and 98-92. The victory improved his professional record to 28 wins and 2 losses.
Despite dominating the fight, Magsayo was unable to stop the durable Cuellar, who absorbed a series of heavy shots but refused to go down. Still, it marked Magsayo’s fourth straight win as he continues his climb back into title contention.
In a post-fight message, Magsayo thanked his supporters and looked ahead to bigger opportunities: "Got the W tonight, a step to the world title. Thank you, Lord. Grateful to everyone who supported our fights and for the opportunity. To all who made this happen, maraming salamat."
He also gave credit to Cuellar, describing him as a “tough fighter” and added,
"Thank you that we gave a great show to the boxing fans tonight." RGL
