Junior lightweight Oscar Duarte was originally set to square off against former world champion Regis Prograis this past Saturday. However, due to an unexpected injury, Prograis had to pull out of the fight, leaving Duarte with a new opponent: Miguel Madueno, a formidable fighter with a record of 31-3. The 12-round match took place at California’s legendary Honda Center and was the highlight of a Golden Boy Promotions evening, streamed live on DAZN. A secondary title was on the line, adding an extra layer of intensity to the night.
In the opening round, Madueno set the tone with a sharp jab, but Duarte responded with some heavy hits of his own. The second round took an unexpected turn as Madueno threw more punches than many anticipated, upstaging the favored Duarte at points. While Duarte did have a few notable moments, Madueno seemed to shine a bit brighter during the initial exchange. Duarte’s approach in the third round involved piling on the pressure, though Madueno’s evasive maneuvers kept him in the game. Duarte targeted Madueno’s body consistently, which seemed to lay the groundwork for later rounds.
Duarte’s persistence paid off in the fourth when he rocked Madueno with a solid left. Seizing this opportunity, Duarte pushed Madueno against the ropes, unleashing a barrage of punches in the fifth round. Despite gaining a cut, Madueno remained tenacious and engaged in the fight. By the sixth, Duarte’s aggressive tactics began to dominate the bout. He efficiently cut off the ring and kept the upper hand.
The seventh round was where Duarte truly made his mark, hurting Madueno significantly. Smelling victory, Duarte pressed forward, prompting the referee to step in and stop the fight for Madueno’s safety. Although Madueno disagreed with the stoppage, it was hard to fault the referee’s judgment given the potential for serious harm.
Reflecting on the match, Duarte expressed satisfaction with his and his team’s performance. When asked about future opponents, he was open to any challenge, confidently stating, “Any champion, right here, let’s do it right now.” Duarte’s composure and strategic execution earned him a well-deserved victory. His effective combination of patience and aggression helped dismantle his opponent, demonstrating his growing prowess in the ring.
Duarte undoubtedly is a fighter to watch. Performances like this past Saturday’s suggest he’s on a path to achieve much more in his boxing career.
