MAGALI STOPS BALHARA TO WIN WBC OPBF SILVER TITLE

Wbc -Opbf Ring officials

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Ferocious Carlo Magali of the Philippines landed solid body shots and whopping hooks to win by a technical knockout in 1;28 of the 10th round against previously unbeaten Sandeep Balhara of India to capture the vacant WBC OPBF Silver featherweight title last Sunday at the Mid Valley Exhibition Centre here.
Magali used his vast experience and heart of stone in punishing Balhara with his timely jabs and powerful body shots. Balhara tried to counter back with his right jabs but Magali eluded them mostly.
Balhara, however, was able to also hit Magali with his jabs in the 6th round. But that did not stop Magali from further attacking the Indian, who suffered a nasty cut on the left eye in the 9th round.
The cut became Magali’s target in the next round as Balhara began backpedalling due to the bodyshots from the former IBF Pan Pacific super featherweight champion.
Veteran international referee Bruce McTavish finally put a stop on the fight after seeing Balhara being helplessly bombarded by Magali’s relentless attacks at the ropes.
“I had to stop the fight to protect Balhara from further punishment,” said McTavish.
“Tama yung ginawa ni Bruce kasi kawawa na masyado ang Indian,” said OPBF president Juan Ramon Guanzon, who awarded Magali the golden belt together with Isuzu Kuala Lumpur general manager Yosuke Sagara.
Also present were businessman Mohd Nazifuddin Najib, son of Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, Isuzu Malaysia executive directors Hajime Machimura and Mikio Tsukui.

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak’s son Mohd Nazifuddin Najib (middle) flanked by BoxRanx vice-president AK Salvador (right) and American boxer Jonathan Clemons.

They were assisted by promoter Raymond Lew, president of the WBC Boxing Malaysia and AK Salvador, vice-president of BoxRanx and WBC Boxing Malaysia.
“I really thanked God that I’m a champion again. I also thanked my manager Brico (Santig) and trainer Nino (Jalnaiz),” said Magali.
Santig, on the other hand, said Magali’s hard work in training paid off.
“Because Magali really trains hard and he’s always ready even though he still has no schedule to fight,” Santig said.
The 12-round WBC OPBF title fight was the first in 42 years and was the main event of the inaugural boxing presentation of WBC Boxing Malaysia and BoxRanx.
It also featured the pro debuts of promising boxers from United States, Iran, Indonesia and Malaysia. (See separate story.)
OPBF president Juan Ramon Guanzon congratulated WBC Boxing Malaysia and BoxRanx for successfully staging the event and also formally turned over the official OPBF By-Laws and Regulations.
“For a newcomer, WBC Boxing Malaysia did a really good job. Congratulations to them!,” said Guanzon.