BY NICK GIONGCO
With his fight in the US scuttled owing to the coronavirus pandemic, rising featherweight star Mark Magsayo remains busy and active so he can easily spring into action the moment the sky clears up.
Just before the coronavirus outbreak put everything to a grinding halt, Magsayo was a picture of pride and happiness after signing a promotional deal with Manny Pacquiao’s MP Promotions.
Upon signing, MP Promotions President Sean Gibbons immediately booked Magsayo to appear in mid-May but the coronavirus ruined those plans and the unbeaten puncher was left with no choice but to stay behind.
Plans were afoot for him to be trained by Freddie Roach but the 24-year-old Magsayo suddenly found himself training alongside his wife Frances in a house in Pasig amid the enhanced community quarantine.
“He does balance training, sit-ups, shadow boxing, skipping rope,” said Frances on Friday “There is also a basketball court beside where we reside so he plays basketball sometimes and jogs early when there are no people around,” added Frances, who serves as his husband’s ‘sparmate’ when they do ‘partner play’, sometimes referred to as simulated sparring.
Armed with a 20-0 win-loss card with 14 KOs, Magsayo is ranked No. 5 by the World Boxing Association and No. 4 by the International Boxing Federation.
Despite the lockdown, Magsayo is making sure he keeps himself in shape so when he gets the call to fly to the US, he’ll be ready.
“He’s a real pro as he stays in shape physically and mentally,” said Gibbons.
