By Ryan Burton
Super featherweight contender Diego Magdaleno (20-0 7 KOs) recently appeared on "The Boxing Lab," BoxingScene.com's official audio show. The Las Vegas native fights in front of his hometown fans on Friday at Mandalay Bay when he faces Emmanuel Lucero on the eve of Manny Pacquiao-Juan Manuel Marquez's trilogy, which takes place down the strip at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
Magdaleno had only 3 knockouts in his first 15 fights, but he recently started to sit on his punches more often which has produced 4 knockouts in his last 5 fights. He said that he won't press for the knockout on Friday but if the opportunity opens up - he will go for it.
"If the opportunity presents itself, yeah, I will go for the knockout but I am going to fight a smart fight. I am not going to press for it," stated Magdaleno.
Magdaleno's opponent has been very vocal in the lead up to the fight. Lucero has came up short against top notch competition such as Manny Pacquiao, Daniel Ponce De Leon and Rocky Juarez amongst others. Lucero recently said that Magdaleno's promoter, Top Rank, has been spoon feeding Diego and also referred to him as a pretty boy.
Magdaleno took the comments in stride and responded by saying, "I know he called me a pretty boy and I know that he said I have a pretty face and I am going to keep it that way (laughing)," said Magdaleno. "But I am going to be a gentleman since it's a gentlemen's sport. I will do my talking in the ring. He can talk all he wants but he has to face me in the ring."
The super featherweight division has been in the shadows of the featherweight division over the past few years. That has started to change as fighters such as Yuriorkis Gamboa and Juan Manuel Lopez have talked about moving up in weight and more importantly some of the top 130 pound prospects have started to come of age. Magdaleno is happy with the way his career has progressed and feels that he will receive a title shot next year.
The Boxing Lab's co-host Ernie Gabion asked Magdaleno if he felt ready to face fighters such as Adrien Broner, Eloy Perez, and Rocky Martinez who are some of the best figthers in the division. He responded by saying - "I want to face all those guys. I think I am ready for them now but I listen to my managers and my promoters. I am very exciting about the potential fights in my division."
To listen to Diego Magdaleno's interview in its entirety you can download the podcast at tobtr.com/s/2458411 - Alfredo "El Perro" Angulo and Peter Manfredo Jr. also appear on this week's edition of The Boxing Lab.
Send questions or comments to ringsidewriter@gmail.com Follow Ryan on Twitter @ringsidewriter and tune in to The Boxing Lab, Boxingscene's official audio on Tuesdays. The show is hosted by Ernie Gabion, Luis Sandoval and Ryan Burton.
