Undefeated Boholano boxer Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo (19-0, 14 KOs) arrived in Bohol on Sunday afternoon ahead of his 12-round title bout against former World Boxing Organization bantamweight champion Panya Uthok (53-6, 35 KOs) of Thailand.

Magsayo and his team arrived at the Bohol-Panglao International Airport in Panglao town at past 12 noon from Manila.

He is set to continue his training at the Harada Boxing Gym in Barangay Cogon in Tagbilaran City.

According to Magsayo, his team is on track with preparations for the fight. He started to spar for 12 rounds and will be tapering off in training in the following weeks ahead of the fight.

“Ready na kaayo. Gi preparar namo ni og tulo ka buwan, sugod agtong June. Naka-sparring na mi og 12 rounds so ready’ng ready na. Magkaduol ang [fight], light na ang training,” said Magsayo who held his main training camp at the Elorde Boxing Gym – Gilmore in Quezon City.

Magsayo, 24, and Uthok, 29, will slug it out for two vacant titles—the World Boxing Council Asia Featherweight Title and the International Boxing Federation Pan-Pacific Featherweight Title—at the Bohol Wisdom School Gymnasium on August 31.

A decisive win against Uthok and earning the two belts are seen to catapult Magsayo’s promising career to greater heights, but the bout against the Thai will not be a cakewalk. And Magsayo is aware of this.

“Ahong gi-expect iyang stamina, na hanginan g’yud siya…Among gipaningkamutan ni coach na ang among stamina taas ug ang kalig-on,” Magsayo said.

Uthok knocked out AJ Banal, one of the country’s top boxing prospects, in the ninth round of their 12-round bout in Pasay City in 2012. He also knocked out Ryo Akaho in 2015 to win the vacant WBO world bantamweight title. (ad)