Diego Magdaleno Beats Beltran Down

by Gautham Nagesh

Rising junior lightweight Diego Magdaleno turned in his best performance to date, stopping Fernando Beltran Jr. in the seventh round to remain unbeaten in Tucson on ShoBox Friday night.

Magdaleno dominated the entire fight, apart from a flash knockdown that came via a Beltran left hand in the fourth. Diego rose from the canvas with his nostrils flaring, and Beltran quickly paid the price for his insolence. From then on the Las Vegas native put a vicious beating on the Mexican.[[MORE]]

Diego began doubling up on his lead uppercuts to the body, followed by one-two combinations that landed as often as not. By the seventh the punch stats were staggering, with Diego landing more than twice as many power shots as his smaller opponent.

A flurry in the seventh sent Beltran in to the ropes and forced a count. Beltran gamely rose, but Diego came back in like a freight train. A few more combinations and Beltran’s corner was forced to throw in the towel, knowing their man was over-matched. The ref wisely respected their decision despite Beltran’s protests.

Magdaleno is known as a light but busy puncher, yet he showed real ferocity in becoming the first man to stop Beltran. He’s already enormously popular in Vegas, and this new style could make him a star on national TV. Along with fellow unbeaten Adrien Broner, Magdaleno has a chance to bring life back to what has long been boxing’s weakest division. Hopefully we’re in for some big fights at 130 lbs. in the next 12 months.