Boxing Report: Diego Magdaleno defeats Gerardo Robles By Ryan Maquiñana at ringside, MaxBoxing (Jan 17, 2010) Special to Doghouse Boxing
Diego “I’m a KO” Magdaleno UD8 Gerardo “Lalo” Robles - In the co-feature, hometown hero and Top Rank super featherweight prospect Diego Magdaleno remained undefeated by earning a rugged eight-round unanimous decision over Kansas City native Gerardo Robles.
With the steady chants of "Diego! Diego!," The Hard Rock Hotel has basically been Magdaleno’s home ring; as more than half of the bouts in his fledgling career have taken place at “The Joint.”
A southpaw slickster with a 111-16 amateur record, Magdaleno’s boxing skills were evident from the opening bell; but so was the sturdy Robles’s power.
After a spirited first round where both fighters landed clean shots, the plot of the fight centered around the orthodox Robles, 131 ½, trying to land a lead right hand to the body and work inside, while Magdaleno, 130 ½, attempted to circle to his right in hopes of landing combinations off his right jab. In the second round, Magdaleno was able to push his agenda and outboxed Robles.
The third round caught the crowd’s attention, with both fighters trading at will and landing telling shots that rocked the two combatants. Robles arguably won the round, capped off by a straight right that snapped Magdaleno’s head back, a punch which would become his chief weapon of choice.
In the fourth round, Magdaleno began to go to the body, with Robles using his opponent’s new strategy to go downstairs by looking for openings to the head.. Midway through the round, the two engaged in the center of the ring, with Robles’s corner imploring him to throw the jab before coming forward. However, Magdaleno won the round by continuing to throw and occasionally land through Robles’s high guard.
The following round mirrored the third. Robles was able to put together a solid offensive stretch where he landed solid straight lead rights to Magdaleno’s chin. However, an incidental headbutt did damage to Robles’s right eye and had him backpedaling toward the end of the fifth.
The sixth round was all Magdaleno. The southpaw stunned Robles with a combination of punches from all angles and pushed him against the ropes for several seconds. But Robles weathered the storm and showed no serious effects at the bell.
The seventh round started with Robles taking charge of the pace and pressuring Magdaleno with initial success. However, Robles’ feints were not supported by a stiff jab, and Magdaleno’s superior footwork allowed him to circle to his right and eventually evade Robles’s advances.
The eighth and final round had an aura of urgency, with both fighters starting strong in the middle of the ring. Once again, Magdaleno boxed his way out of the jam despite a frantic charge from Robles. Referee Jay Nady broke the two apart constantly as Robles tried desperately to go for a home run in the pocket. Unfortunately for him, it was not to be. Robles was unable to turn him and find such an opening and the bell rang for the final time in the fight.
Jerry Roth and Al Lefkowitz scored the bout 78-74 in favor of Magdaleno, with Adelaide Byrd seeing it 80-72 also in favor of the winner, who now moves to 13-0 (3). Robles, 9-9 (5) has now dropped his second straight bout after enjoying a six-fight winning streak.
“He was very durable and a little awkward,” said Magdaleno, of Robles. “The counterpunches worked better for me in the later rounds. He did some things to throw me off, but you have to be able to adjust to anything.”
