As most know, the relationship of boxing trainer Freddie Roach and Manny Pacquiao is not the same as it used to be. Although the 59-year-old was recalled last year, Roach needs to work with Buboy Fernandez in calling the shots.
It appears Roach has no qualms about that although Pacquiao is not the only fighter he needs to attend to. As most know, he is one reason at some point behind the success of fighters like Miguel Cotto, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., and Amir Khan. In all, Roach is someone who can guide any fighter on the right path.
Now, it appears he has another Filipino under his wing. He goes by the name of Mark "Magnifico" Magsayo, a 24-year-old boxer out of Tagbilaran City, Bohol. Magsayo is undefeated and considered as another promising fighter from the Philippines.
Magsayo fought in August 2019 after almost a two-year hiatus. He faced Panya Uthok of Thailand at "Pride of Bohol" with the WBC Asia featherweight title on the line. Despite the layoff, the 5-foot-6 boxer hacked out a unanimous decision win over the Thai. It was a sweet comeback for Magsayo, who became the new WBC Asia featherweight champion.
Since then, nothing has been mapped out yet on who Magsayo will face next. Regardless, he intends to keep on training to do better. And it appears he started 2020 right, getting Freddie Roach as his coach.
“Coach Freddie (Roach) will be my official coach. All my training will be handled by him,” said Magsayo in an exclusive interview.
The boxing world went abuzz when photos of Magsayo training at the Wild Card Boxing Club were spread by the native of Bohol himself on social media. Several outlets picked up on it, although some information revealed needed to be straightened out. That included the real score between him and MP Promotions, Pacquiao's group.
"I am still deciding on the promoter and I want to make sure I choose wisely this time. I am thinking about it carefully,” Magsayo said in the same interview.
It turns out that he is talking to several promotions and wanted to choose wisely. He points out what happened to him before returning to the boxing ring and does not want it to happen again.
“You know what happened to me. I struggled for 2 years but I never stopped training. I am still deciding on the promoter and I want to make sure I choose wisely this time. I am thinking about it carefully," he pointed out.
He does confirm that Sean Gibbons want to talk to him when he returns to the Philippines. Until he officially signs with a promotion, his next fight remains a mystery. Regardless, the promising young star says he intends just to keep on training and be ready against whoever he faces next.
