Undefeated Filipino boxer Mark Magsayo, one of Manny Pacquiao's proteges in MP Promotions, took a jab at critics after his knockout win against former Mexican champion Julio Ceja over the weekend.
Magsayo, who went live on social media Wednesday, Aug. 25, cannot help but respond to unnamed "boxing analysts" who questioned the Boholano's punching prowess despite a spectacular 10th round knockout win in their WBC featherweight title eliminator at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on Saturday, Aug. 21 there (Sunday in Manila).
"Sobrang galing nila e. Bilib na bilib ako sa mga boxing analyst. Idol ko talaga 'yang mga boxing analyst na 'yan (They are very good. I'm amazed with these boxing analysts. They are my idols)," said Magsayo during the live session, obviously in a sarcastic manner.
"Daming mga sinasabi e. 'Magsayo kulang sa stamina, kulang sa lakas.' Kulang pa ba sa lakas 'yon mga idol? Napatulog nga natin. Sabi tsamba daw. 'Di nila alam na binabago namin ni coach Freddie 'yong style nung mga half of the fight (They say a lot. They say I lack stamina and power. I lack power? I knocked down my opponent. They said it was by chance but they don't know coach Freddie and I changed my style midway the fight)."
READ: Knockout of the Year? Fans react to Magsayo’s KO victory vs Ceja
Magsayo explained that coaches Roach and Marvin Somodio decided to let Ceja lose momentum by taking the match at center ring and exhaust the Mexican's gas tank.
It was also midway through the match, exactly at the fifth round, where Magsayo found himself in a dangerous position after being decked by Ceja with some powerful body shots.
From there on, Magsayo's camp knew that the Filipino is on a mismatch against the Mexican's precise counterpunching.
"'Pag sumuntok siya nang marami, yakap tapos tulak papunta sa gitna para 'yong momentum niya mawala. Parehong 'yon na-observe nila. 'Yon 'yong Plan B namin, yayakapin siya kasi nasa momentum 'yong mga suntok niya (If he unloads a barrage of punches, I just need to hug him and keep him at center ring to disrupt his momentum. That's our Plan B)," explained Magsayo.
"'Pag nakasuntok siya, tuloy tuloy. Sabi sa akin, sige mamaya paubusin natin hangin nito. Ayun naubusan ng hangin. Tayo na ang babanat. Sino pang babanat, kalaban? 'Yon ang 'di alam ng mga experts dyan (I was told to exhaust him and that's what happened. We go in after that. That's what those experts don't know about)."
Magsayo said he will just laugh at and shrug off critics after the lengthy explanation.
Magsayo was actually behind the judges' scorecard before spotting an opening for the lethal right hand that sent Ceja out cold at the canvas, which many fans and analysts considered as one of the candidates for Knockout of the Year.