By Bert Mendez
MAGSAYO, OTHER UNDEFEATED PINOY BOXERS RIPE FOR TOUGHER ASSIGNMENTS
Tagbilaran City Pride, Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo and several other Filipino boxers toting a perfect record are ripe for tougher assignments and waiting for their turn to shine this year.
The celebrated Magsayo, 21-0 with 14 knockouts, beat Mexican-American Rigoberto Hermosillo by split decision in his first fight under the banner of MP (Manny Pacquiao) Promotions last October in Los Angeles and is raring to do better on his next bout.
Magsayo is in the United States training for his next fight while Carl Jammes Martin, Jade Bornea, KJ Cataraja, Robert Paradero, and Jayson Mama are in the country, hoping to be contacted by international promoters for their next bouts.
Outstanding among them all is the 24-year-old Reymart Gaballo, 24-0 with 20 knockouts, bested former world champion Emmanuel Rodriguez by split decision on December 20 (Philippine time) to clinch the interim World Boxing Council bantamweight title in Uncasville, Connecticut.
Gaballo is back in General Santos City after 8 months of being holed up in Miami, and, according to Sanman Promotions head JC Manangquil, will resume working out after the holidays.
Jade Bornea (15-0, 10 knockouts) and Jayson Mama (15-0, 8 knockouts) are two other GenSan-based prospects.
Bornea last fought nearly a year ago when he defeated Ernesto Degadillo via split decision in their super flyweight tussle in the United States.
Mama was supposed to challenge International Boxing Federation champion Moruti Mthalane in Durban, South Africa, but the fight, supposedly slated December 20, got canceled even though the Filipino was already in town.
Highly touted bantamweight Carl Jammes Martin (16-0, 14 knockouts) subdued unheralded Richard Rosales last December 18 in Mandaue City and is looking forward to bigger fights this year.
Also ripe for tougher assignments is KJ Cataraja (12-0, 10 knockouts), who disposed of John Mark Apolinario last December 17 at the Sanman Gym in General Santos City.
Robert Paradero (18-0, 12 knockouts) will tackle fellow Filipino Vic Saludar for the World Boxing Association minimumweight belt on January 30 at the Elorde Sports Complex in Parañaque City.
Having clean records will hasten their climb 0n the boxing ladder.