The Manny Pacquiao protege remains unbeaten in the featherweight headliner Saturday night on FS1 PBC Fight Night.
It is always difficult living with a label. When that label comes from a legend like Manny Pacquiao, it adds extra glare.
That’s what Filipino featherweight Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo will deal with each time he steps into the ring. Upon signing Magsayo to a promotional contract, the future Hall of Famer and Filipino icon blurted out that Magsayo “reminds me of myself.”
That’s gargantuan praise.
Magsayo backed up the big words by backing down southpaw Rigoberto Hermosillo with a 10-round split-decision win Saturday night in the main event on the PBC FS1 Fight Night show from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, California.
Judges Rudy Barragan (100-90) and Zachary Young (96-94) each had it for Magsayo, while Dr. Lou Moret somehow saw it 96-94 for Hermosillo.
“He’s one of the best punchers in the gym and knocks people down all of the time, but he wasn’t letting his hands go,” said Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach said of Magsayo, who was working with the Filipino for the first time. “I kept urging him to throw more combinations and use more power.
Coming off a 13-month layoff, the 25-year-old Magsayo was explosive, powerful, and fired punches from all angles. That was quickly evident when Magnifico nailed Hermosillo with two clubbing rights in the first.
In the closing seconds of the fifth, Magsayo (21-0, 14 KOs) possibly showed Pacquiao why he could see himself in him, when he slammed a right into Hermosillo, followed by another before hopping out of harm’s way, much like Pacquiao would.
For a late replacement, Hermosillo (11-3-1, 8 KOs) fought exceptionally well. He nailed Magsayo to the face on numerous occasions, and outlanded Magsayo, 181/856 (21%) to 136/417 (33%), though that was not indicative of the true outcome.
Magsayo was not only more precise, but more damaging, finishing strong to win the decision.
Paul Kroll remains undefeated in getting by Luke Santamaria
Paul Kroll had been waiting for some time for this chance. The 25-year-old Philadelphia welterweight had an extensive amateur background and saw many his age that he came up with get time on national TV.
Kroll’s time to shine arrived on Saturday night.
Kroll beat the rangy Lucas Santamaria by 10-round unanimous decision, going over eight rounds for the first time in his career.
Judges Rudy Barragan and Lou Moret both had it 99-91 for Kroll (8-0, 6 KOs), while judge Zachary Young had it far closer, 96-94.
Midway through the second round, Santamaria (11-2-1, 7 KOs) caused some problems for Kroll. Coming forward, he pinned Kroll into a corner, landing a left to the body, getting inside without using a jab. With 1:12 left in the second, Santamaria had Kroll in real trouble, landing a left to the body that forced Kroll to back up.
Kroll responded well in the third, blasting Santamaria with a right to the face. But Kroll didn’t follow up in the hard shot, allowing Santamaria to recover.
Through seven, however, Santamaria had outlanded Kroll, 55-43, though Kroll punished him with a counter left.
Undeterred, Kroll rallied late, dominating the final three rounds.
Chavez Barrientes outpoints Iván Varela
Chavez Barrientes’ night was over before he even stepped into the ring. Chavez usually gets far more nervous watching his twin brother, Angel, who opened the FS1 PBC Fight Night card with a victory, than he does when he fights.
Angel, like his twin, commanded the fight from start to finish. Working behind a stiff jab, Chavez went beyond the first round for the first time in his budding career, beating Iván Varela by unanimous six-round decision as a junior featherweight.
Chavez (3-0, 2 KOs) mixed his attack well. He used a counter left hook to offset the lunging Varela, and a double-jab left hand to prevent Varela (3-3, 1 KO) from getting set. Chavez also showed he could take a shot, with his head exposed a few times.
Angel Barrientes makes his U.S. debut with a unanimous decision win
Like anyone taking their first steps, learning is involved. Promising 18-year-old prospect Angel Barrientes is no different. The towering 5-foot-11 featherweight went the distance for the first time in his young career, beating the very tough Fernando Ibarra (2-4) by unanimous six-round decision.
Fans got a good glimpse of Barrientes, who sparred 20 rounds with Gervonta Davis preparing for Ibarra. Barrientes (3-0, 2 KOs) went beyond four rounds for the first time as a pro. He had a point deducted in the first 30 seconds of the sixth round for holding by referee Dan Stell.
Otherwise, it was a silky effort for Barrientes.
In the final moments of the fourth, Barrientes connected on a left hook with a right uppercut to cleave Ibarra’s defense. In the opening minute of the fifth, the teenager weathered an early storm, and staved off Ibarra using a stiff, accurate jab.
For a closer look at Magsayo vs Hermosillo, check out our fight night page.
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