Magsayo closer to title shot

It didn't take long for WBC/WBO No. 3, WBA No. 4 and IBF No. 5 superfeatherweight contender Mark Magsayo to demolish Ecuadorian Bryan Mercado in their six-round bout at Thunder Studios, Long Beach, California, Saturday night (yesterday afternoon, Manila).

- By JOAQUIN HENSON

Magsayo sent Mercado down twice in the first round then twice more in the second before referee Gerard White called it off at the 0:28 mark.

Mercado was totally outclassed in the abbreviated annihilation. Magsayo used a jarring left jab to seize early control of the fight then moved around the ring to cut off Mercado's escape routes. He hammered the Ecuadorian's rib cage with a left hook to score the first knockdown. Mercado got up but fell once more to buy time to recover and was saved by the bell.