Jessie Magdaleno Decisions Ruiz In Texas Station Headliner From Vegas To Capture NABF Jr Title

Foto por Herbert Diaz

Kicking things off for the 2015 boxing scene in Las Vegas were super bantamweights, Erik Ruiz (13-2 w/6 KOs) and the unbeaten, Jessie Magdaleno (20-0 w/15 KOs). Their Super Bantamweight Title Bout for the NABF jr championship was scheduled for 8 rounds as the main event from inside the Texas Station’s Star of the Desert Ballroom in Sin City.  There, Jessie Magdaleno stitched together his best performance to date as the Las Vegas native used movement, angles and a serious right hand to pick his man apart for the entirety of the bout. If Jessie Magdaleno wasn’t weaving in and out of the pocket using his improved footwork, he peppered his man with clubbing right hand leads and counters. The southpaw’s power has yet to diminish in his now 20 professional bouts as his hand speed seems to have only increased, evident by his ability to land a 2 or 3-punch combination then effortlessly slide out of the pocket leaving Erik Ruiz to hit air.

Ruiz’ beard held up to the onslaught as he tangled with his foe’s arsenal but the hand speed differential was more and more evident as the rounds progressed. Ruiz tried pressing Magdaleno along the ropes or smothering him against the corner but an intelligent Magdaleno jabbed his way out or launched a hook or upper cut before clinching if not circling out masterfully. Ruiz temporarily adjusted to the countless Magdaleno right hands that stamped him through the first half of the bout but then Ruz started running into wicked left hooks from the Las Vegan who made adjustments of his own. Jessie found a home for his left hand shot by walking his man into it feinting the right if not shooting a stiff straight right hand then following up with a mean left hook.

Heading into the 8th and final round and riding a commanding lead in the form of a shut out, Jessie Magdaleno opted to stand and trade heat with his game but out matched adversary. Ruiz gladly obliged bending over as he put everything that he had left into his punches but nothing landed that could have significantly changed the inevitable outcome. However reckless, Jessie Magdaleno’s willingness to engage at close range in the middle of the ring was the icing on the cake for his loyal fan base who absolutely loved the action blowing the roof off of the ballroom with their appreciative roar as the round came to a close.

Once the judges announced their decision it was academic, all of them saw it 80-72 for the newly minted NABF jr bantamweight title holder. The loss is only the second for Erik Ruiz’ professional career taking Jessie Magdaleno the distance for only the 5th time in Magdaleno’s pro career.

Karl Garcia (4-4 w/1 KOs) vs. Vic Pasillas (9-0 w/3KOs)

(Featherweight Bout – 6 Rounds)

Pasillas and Garcia met in a battle of talented 126ers that went the distance. The more poised and polished fighter nevertheless was Pasillas whose southpaw stance enabled him to snap his jab as well as pot shot thanks to his faster hand speed, pin point accuracy and powerful straight punches. From the opening bell the undefeated Pasillas set the tempo by constantly stepping to his mans’ left, setting up his power punches. He nailed him with constant right hands be it up jabs, straights and the occasional follow up left hook.

During an exchange, plus what looked to be an accidental stepping of Garcia on Pasilla’s foot, a knock down occurred. A Garcia straight right hand shot landed however on Pasillas before he went to the canvas so it was ruled a knock down by referee Kenny Bayless.  Not to be outdone, Pasillas quickly got the point back in the following round as he landed a short, compact shot on his man that sent him to the canvas. From there on, Pasillas returned to his methodical approach for the final two rounds of snapping his man’s head back using his lighting quick jab as well as straight shots that damaged his foe leaving Garcia with a bloody nose and slight swelling on his left eye.

Result: Vic Pasillas remains unbeaten defeating Karl Garcia via unanimous decision with scores of 60-54, 60-54 and 59-53.

Jailton de Jesus (13-4 w/11 KOs) vs. Rodrigo Garcia (17-0 w/12 KOs)

( Super Middleweight Bout – 8 Rounds)

A pair of 168-pound fighters met when De Jesus challenged Garcia’s unbeaten record. He stood his ground with a tight guard but did not return much fire for the first 60 seconds of the bout as Garcia marched  towards him unloading 2 and 3-punch combinations. Garcia’s hand speed was also notches above his man’s hand speed so the Santa Ana, California native trudged forward with supreme confidence. The hooks from Garcia were as vicious as they were accurate and seemed to find their mark as they landed on the side of the head or bounced off of the arms of his foe. De Jesus backed up slightly then opened up to throw a right hand lead. Instantly Garcia landed a picture perfect left hook counter on the chin of his opponent sending him straight to the canvas.

De Jesus was out from the shot as he stared up at the lights. Russell Mora’s count expired so he instinctively waived the match  off.

Result: Rodrigo Garcia remains unbeaten defeating Jailton de Jesus via 1st round KO at (1:17).

Zlatko Ledic (1-4-1) vs. Jonathan Blue (0-2)

( Light Heavyweight Bout – 4 Rounds )

The second bout of the night, also not televised on the main card, saw a pair of 175ers meet in Ledic and Blue. Both men seemed to have agreed as soon as the bell rang to see who could ring the other’s bell in style. They stood wide, loading up on their punches and threw heat for the entire opening round. Ledic’s overhands crashing unto his man as Blue snapped left hooks in and out. Surprisingly, no man saw the canvas as they zoomed power shots at one another for the whole opening 3 minutes.

Heading into the 2nd round that all changed as Ledic tightened up his elbows bringing in the punches more compact. A short, crisp shot on the inside beat his man to the punch landing beautifully during an exchange.  The blow leveled Blue sending him flat on his back to the canvas. The Las Vegas native beat the count however, he was in trouble standing on visibly unsteady legs. Ledic smelled the blood, popping his jab, closing in on his foe landing combinations almost at will. Blue took a couple of unnecessary shots along the ropes as Ledic walked him down before referee Russell Mora alertly stepped in to call a halt to the bout.

Result:  Zlatko Ledic stops Jonathan Blue via 2nd round TKO at (1:32).

Brian True (1-3-1 w/1 KOs) vs. Cem Kilic (2-0)

( Welterweight Bout – 4 Rounds )

The very first bout of the evening was not televised but packed plenty of action as 147ers collided in True and Kilic. From the first sew seconds of the match it was True’s overhand right and counter left hook versus Kilic’s straight right hand and 1-2 combinations in a frantic pace. Both men grabbed their own high percentage of connectivity as they traded heavy and at close quarters but it was True’s punches that had more pop as they landed clean making his foe clinch. In the 2nd and 3rd rounds however, Kilic took back control of the match  applying a left hook-right hook  heavy approach to his offense. Whether he doubled or tripled the hooks alternating from right hand to left hand, the damage accumulated for those action packed 6 minutes.

True tried to rally back in the 4th and final round, letting his opponent back him up as he looked to counter with a big left hook or overhand bomb but it never came. Kilic kept coming forward showing tremendous conditioning and heart as he would not be denied behind an assortment of hooks or power punches at close range. He also showed a solid beard when his man finally landed a few good shots towards the end of the round but the pop was gone since True’s punches were wider now, straying from their accuracy.

Result: Kem Cilic remains  unbeaten defeating Brian True via unanimous decision with all judges seeing the bout 39-37.