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Nonito Donaire vs. Jessie Magdaleno: 3 Things to Watch For

Check out three things to watch for in the upcoming championship bout between Nonito Donaire and Jessie Magdaleno.

3 Things to Watch for During Donaire vs. Magdaleno

donaite-vs-magdaleno

Experience vs. Youth

The 33-year old “Filipino Flash” Nonito Donaire (37-3, 24 KOs) is counting on his experience in the ring to help him retain his WBO Junior featherweight belt on November 5 against Jessie Magdaleno.

Donaire has fought in 40 bouts, a total of 233 rounds and combined with his experience he believes his passion will lead him to victory over Magdaleno.

Jessie Magdaleno (23-0, 17 KOs), who is much younger at the age of 24, is confident that his energy, youth and strength will make him champion.

Magdaleno is much less experienced and has yet to be tested by this level of competition. He has only fought in 23 bouts, a total of 87 rounds, but he also has a much higher KO percentage at 74 percentage, compared to Donaire’s 60 percent KO ratio.

Magdaleno is confident and hungry–and he is looking to send Donaire into retirement.

This bout is expected to be the better of the two bouts showcasing a Las Vegas fighter and a product of the Philippines. Many boxing fans are expecting a slugfest between these two extremely busy fighters.

Keep an eye out for whether Donaire’s experience or the youth of Magdaleno will make a significant difference in who comes out victorious at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas on November 5.


Home Crowd Advantage for Jessie Magdaleno

Jessie Magdaleno always brings out a huge crowd. Every time he fights in Vegas–his fans never disappoint in supporting him. The first time I saw Magdaleno fight at the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas in 2014 against Carlos Rodriguez, I was shocked by how many fans were there cheering him on.

Magdaleno was fighting on the undercard and to this day, I have never seen so many fans come out to support an undercard fighter.

With that being said, Filipino fans always seem to show up in Vegas. It would be abnormal if Filipino boxing fans don’t show up especially with this being a fight on the undercard of the legendary eight-division champion, Manny Pacquiao. While I am expecting a very diverse crowd at the Thomas and Mack Center November 5, I would be shocked if Magdaleno isn’t easily the crowd favorite.

Being the crowd favorite definitely has its advantages–not only do fighters want to put on a show for their fans, but it is undeniable that judges often get swayed by loud cheering or exaggerated excitement.

Whether or not a home crowd advantage will play a role in who comes out on top remains a mystery, but regardless boxing fans should expect fireworks.


Speed

When talking to boxing fans, many think the difference in Nonito Donaire vs. Jessie Magdaleno will be speed. While it could be argued that Magdaleno is just as quick, perception leading up to this fight is that Donaire has faster hand speed.

Hand speed is being looked at as the deciding factor in this fight between the champion Donaire and the challenger Magdaleno.

Many believe Donaire’s hand speed will set him apart and help him retain his WBO junior Featherweight title.

Will Donaire’s hand speed prove to be too much for Magdaleno? We will have to wait and see.

 

Graphic by Ogabel Sports

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