MAGALI’S CAMP PREFERS POSTPONEMENT OF WORLD TITLE FIGHT

BY LITO DELOS REYES

RARE OPPORTUNITY. Carlo Magali [middle] flanked by manager Brico Santig [right] and trainer Ninolito Jalnaiz.

MANILA – The camp of Carlo “The Ferocious” Magali of the Philippines prefers that the world championship fight against reigning WBC World Super Featherweight champion Miguel “El Alacran” Berchelt of Mexico will be postponed for at least two more weeks in order to prepare them for the fight.
This was bared by Magali’s chief trainer Ninolito “Onin” Jalnaiz of Highland Boxing Stable from La Trinidad, Benguet
“It’s much better since it can give us more time to prepare for the fight,” said Jalnaiz, a former member of the Philippine national team from Bohol and professional boxer of ALA Boxing Stable in Cebu.
Although, Magali’s camp has already started their training at the MP Highland Boxing Gym in Manila and will continue it at the Highland Boxing Gym in La Trinidad this week.
“We have studied also now the past fights of Berchelt in the Youtube,” said Jalnaiz.
But Magali’s camp is still now studying on how to beat Berchelt,, who is only making second title defense.
“He is a good boxer and I think he is hard to beat. But we will do our best to win ,” said Jalnaiz, a nephew of two-time Asian Games gold medalist Roberto Jalnaiz.
The said championship fight was originally slated on February 10 at the Plaza de Toros in Cancun, Mexico by promoters Fernando Beltran (Promociones Zanfer), Jose Gomez (Cancún Boxing) and Guillermo Rocha (Boxing Time Promotions).
But the Games and Amusements Board (GAB) of the Philippines under Chairman Abraham Kahlil “Baham” Mitra through the recommendation of its Medical and Boxing Divisions denied the request of Magali’s manager Brico Santi g due to the lack of the required 45 days rest period of a boxer.
Magali, a native of Talibon, Bohol still lacks at least 15 days rest period according to GAB.
Although Magali (32W-1L-0D, 28 KOs) has won all his last three fights held last year.
He first won by a majority decision against Michael Escobia on March 5 in Mandaluyong City. Magali then captured the interim OPBF title by stopping previously unbeaten Sandeep Balhara of India via a 10th round TKO on July 9 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to win the interim OPBF super featherweight crown.
Magali later captured the regular OPBF title via a 10th round technical knockout against Japanese Masatoshi Kotani last January 13 at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan.
Berchelt (32W-1L-0D, 28 KOs), on the other hand, won the title by knocking out fellow Mexican Francisco Vargas in the 11th round on January 28 at the Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio.
He retained it via a unanimous decision against Japan’s Takashi Miura last July 15 at The Forum in Inglewood, California.