Jessie Magdaleno vs Yenifel Vicente fight preview

Live boxing returns with Jessie Magdaleno vs Yenifel Vicente on June 11

The boxing schedule is well and truly filling up again as Top Rank treat fight fans to two televised events on June 9 as Shakur Stevenson battles Puerta Rican puncher Felix Caraballo at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas; then on June 11, former world champion Jessie Magdaleno will meet Yenifel ‘The Lightning’ Vicente in a 10-round super featherweight contest.

BNN's Editor Jordan Bright took a peak into the forthcoming contest between Magdaleno and Vicente:

 

Jessie Magdaleno

Signed to Top Rank, former WBO super bantamweight champion, Jesus Gabriel Magdaleno, was one of America's best amateurs.

The Californian southpaw amassed an astounding amateur record of 120-16, winning the US National Championships in 2009 by beating Rau'shee Warren, as well as the Golden Gloves Championship, amongst many other accolades. His older brother, Diego, was also a decent amateur who was US lightweight champion in 2007 and had Olympic trials. One of his last fights was against Terence Crawford before turning pro and challenging for a world title.

Now 28-years-old, the puncher from Pomona goes into this bout with a solid 27-1 record that includes 18 knockouts along the way. This will be the first fight in almost a year since the American defeated Mexican Rafael Rivera by a technical decision on August 17, 2019.

His only defeat in his professional career came at the hands of Ghana's Isaac Dogboe, who was 19-0 at the time, after suffering a TKO defeat in the 11th round of their April 2018 WBO world title fight. It was an excellent fight and Jessie had Dogboe down in the opening round with a sweeping left hand to the head. The Ghanaian had an awful start, but rallied back in the second, lost ground in the third as the fight began to see saw back and forth, but by the fourth round, he gained control and began to find a home for his right hand until he dropped Magdaleno in the fifth. The reigning world champion showed heart in the second defence of his title but the impact of the constant body blows impacted his movement and rhythm, which is what brough about the early finish in the penultimate round.

His finest win came against Nonito Donaire in 2016, when he won his WBO strap, which he successfully defended once to Brazilian Adeilson Dos Santos before conceding to Dogboe. The fight was held at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas in November 2016 and it started a little slow and tentative, but picked up a little by the third round, where the challenger landed a good body shot with the left. Magdaleno took over from the fifth round and was busier and sharper than the champion, throwing more and landing more. 23-0 at the time, Magdaleno won the fight on all three judges scorecards.

The southpaw stands at 5’4” and has a reach of 66-inches. A technically gifted boxer, with good movement, he doesn’t put himself in harm’s way during a fight due to his quick footwork and vast boxing experience – hence why he has only one reverse in his professional career. Although he only has one knockout in his last five fights, the former world champion has sufficient power in both hands and has been down his foes with a single knockout blow - to body and head.

 

Yenifel Vicente

Magdaleno’s 29th professional opponent, Yenifel Vicente enters this fight with a record of 36-4-2 that includes 28 knockouts - tallying up to a remarkable 77% knock out ratio.

He hasn’t fought yet in 2020, like the majority of boxers around the world, but his last fight was only eight months ago on October 26, 2019, against Rodolfo Hernandez Montoya. Like most of his fights, he won by knockout in superb fashion.

The fighter from the Dominican Republic will be in good rhythm when entering the ring in Las Vegas for what will be a hard task against Magdaleno. A 20-year-old Vicente made his professional debut on August 27, 2006, where he won by split-decision against Mario Rosario.

Standing slightly taller than his next opponent at 5’5”, he has an orthodox style to his game. At times, Vicente can be wild, but he maintains good combinations to the body before dismantling his opponents, which is evident in his high percentage of knockouts.

 

Verdict

Jessie Magdaleno is the favourite when the pair face off in the ring on June 11, and rightfully so.

Vicente is a little static as times and not the quickest of punchers. He is heavy handed however and his power requires the respect it deserves.

Despite being Dominican Republic's no.1 super-bantamweight, 'The Lightning' has lost more than he's won when fighting in the US, so I don't expect him to receive a warm welcome from Magdaleno on June 11.

Having only ever won regional honours, such as FECARBOX and Latino titles, these two are quite some distance apart in levels.

The Caribbeane has lost four times, but never been stopped, so for that reason, Jessie Magdaleno should prevail by unanimous decision.

 

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