Magdaleno, 18, a graduate of Durango High School in Las Vegas, Nev., will make his professional debut onSaturday, November 6, as a featherweight, on the undercard of the Juan Manuel Lopez – Rafael Marquez WBO featherweight championship fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.  He will be joining his older brother, super featherweight Diego (16-0, 4 KOs), who will be fighting Derrick Campos in an eight-round bout.  Diego is also promoted by Top Rank.

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The victory was the 24-year old O’Connor’s seventh of 2009, making the 2008 US Olympic team alternate one of the most active young fighters in boxing today. The southpaw’s win also showed the continuing maturation of his fight game, as he ended the bout at 1:44 of the third round with a debilitating left uppercut to the body.

O’Connor, a native of Framingham, Massachusetts who is promoted by Seminole Warriors Boxing, is expected back in the ring for more spectacular performances before the end of 2009.

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Berto (18-0, 16 KOs), the 2004 Olympian, squares off against ring veteran Rivera (30-10, 21 KOs) in the toughest test of his promising, young career in the headline bout of the annual summer boxing card.
“Andre Berto is going to bring his boxing horsepower to Saratoga,” said Lou DiBella, president of DiBella Entertainment. “It is a great opportunity to perform in front of the many avid sports fans assembled at Saratoga for the historic racing meet, and on national television on ESPN2′s Friday Night Fights.”
“I am very excited to be able to perform and showcase my talent in front of a broad national audience on ESPN2,” says Berto. “Saratoga is going to be fun because it is a city known for running the best thoroughbreds in the world, and I hope to bring the same kind of excitement in the ring.”
In the co-feature, DBE’s Philadelphia heavyweight prospect Chazz Witherspoon (18-0, 12 KOs) takes on his stiffest challenge to date against Fernely Feliz (29-8, 16 KOs) in the boxing extravaganza promoted by Pugnacious Promotions and DiBella Entertainment during the first weekend of world-class thoroughbred racing meet at the city’s historic race course.
Local favorites Shannon Miller (14-3, 8 KOs), Wayland Willingham (11-0, 6 KOs), Brandon Mitchem (25-4, 8 KOs) and Tommy Rainone (7-0, 2 KOs) will fight challenging opponents on the swing bouts and undercard. Feature fights on the card – held on the first night of twilight racing the evening before the Breeder’s Cup qualifier Whitney Stakes – will be televised on ESPN2′s “Friday Night Fights.”
Berto, from Winterhaven, FL, is one of the most highly touted youngsters in the fight game, and considered by many to be a future world champion. Berto won his last 14 pro fights by KO, six in the first round. He was also named Prospect of the Year by ESPN’s Dan Rafael. Since turning pro, he has excelled against increasingly difficult competition, stopping recent opponents, Miguel Figueroa (25-5, 14 KOs) and Contender TV’s Norberto Bravo (24-12, 13 KOs) impressively. Rivera, from Culiacan, Mexico, challenged Zab Judah (34-5, 25 KOs) for the undisputed welterweight championship in 2005.
“At this point, I m just taking it one fight at a time and hope to see a title shot on the horizon as I continue to climb up the ranks,” adds Berto. “When that opportunity presents itself, I’ll face whoever is in the top spot.”
Witherspoon was 2004 Olympic alternate and National Golden Gloves winner. He has also impressed in his pro career, remaining undefeated in 18 fights and stopping his last five opponents. In his well-traveled, 14-year career, Feliz from Danbury, CT has faced current heavyweight champion Oleg Maskaev (34-5, 26 KOs) and former champ John Ruiz (41-7, 28 KOs).
“Pugnacious Promotions’ annual Saratoga summer show is a great way to start the Saratoga racing season,” said Lisa Elovich co-promoter of the event. “I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to work with DiBella Entertainment and bring these exciting, young, high-level fighters to Saratoga. Fans will be chomping at the bit to see these bouts live.”
Tickets and more information are available from Pugnacious Promotions, www.pugnaciouspromotions.com or 518-326-9756. Call or visit for more information. Tickets are $125 for Golden Ringside and $75 for Ringside. General Admission open seats are $40.

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Youth and experience faced off in the flyweight title bout as two-time National Golden Gloves champion Aaron Alafa (Visalia, Calif.) battled 2006 Under 19 National Champion Qa’id Muhammad (Atlantic City, N.J.). Experience won out as Alafa recorded a 4-1split decision over Muhammad to take his second straight National Golden Gloves title and third in the past six years.
A youngster grabbed the title in each of the next two weight divisions, beginning with the featherweight champion Ronny Rios (Santa Ana, Calif.). The 17-year-old won the gold in his first senior division tournament, taking a 3-2 split decision win over 2006 Under 19 National Champion Jorge Diaz, Jr. (New Brunswick, N.J.). Rios’ victory gave his California franchise two out of the first three national champions.
2005 Junior Olympic National Champion Hylon Williams (Houston, Texas) won his first senior division championship as well, pulling out a 3-2 decision over Raynell Williams (Cleveland, Ohio). At only 16-years-old, Hylon Williams is the youngest 2007 National Golden Gloves champion.
2006 Golden Gloves featherweight champion Sadam Ali (Brooklyn, N.Y.) moved up to the lightweight division for the 2007 edition, but he enjoyed the same success, winning his second straight Golden Gloves crown. Ali defeated Darwin Price, Jr. (St. Louis, Mo.) by a 5-0 margin in the lightweight championship bout to take the gold medal.
Light welterweight Brad Solomon (Douglasville, Ga.) joined Alafa in the three-time national champion club with a victory in his title bout with Jessie Vargas (Las Vegas, Nev.). Solomon won a 5-0 decision over Vargas to win his third straight title and his second consecutive light welterweight crown.
The defending champion winning streak continued into welterweight action as 2006 champ Demetrius Andrade (Providence, R.I.) won his second straight with a final round victory over Charles Hatley (Dallas, Texas). Andrade recorded a 4-1 win in the final round contest to secure this second straight Golden Gloves crown and fourth national championship overall.
In middleweight action, 2006 Under 19 National Champion Shawn Porter (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio) grabbed his first senior division national championship with a final round win over J’Leon Love (Dearborn Heights, Mich.). Porter won a 5-0 decision over Love in the middleweight championship bout to win his first Golden Gloves title.
A first-time champion was crowned in the light heavyweight division as well with Siju Shabazz (Las Cruces, N.M.) winning his first national championship in Chattanooga. Shabazz pulled out a 3-2 split decision win over 2004 National Golden Gloves champion De’Rae Crane (Davenport, Iowa/NMU) to take the light heavyweight crown.
Two heavyweights new to the national scene faced off in an exciting championship bout with Deontay Wilder (Tuscaloosa, Ala.) and David Thompson (Brooklyn, N.Y.) competing for gold. With less than 20 bouts of amateur boxing experience, Wilder won a National Golden Gloves title, taking a 5-0 decision over Thompson to win the heavyweight crown.
The super heavyweight division closed the evening and the event with a battle between 2005 Golden Gloves runner-up Nathaniel James (Malden, Mass.) and Tyler Turner (Washington DC). James finished in exciting fashion, stopping Turner in the second round to win his first Golden Gloves title.
All of the 2007 National Golden Gloves champions earn a berth in the quarterfinal round of the 2007 U.S. Championships, the lone direct qualifier for the Olympic Team Trials – Boxing. The top eight boxers from the U.S. Championships, which will be contested June 2-8 in Colorado Springs, Colo., will advance to the Olympic Trials.

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Thank you for giving us the time Vanes. Tell us about your Olympic experience.
The Olympics was a very good experience for me. The opening ceremony was a dream come true. Everything was great, I just wish I could have got the training at home, then had my own trainer and coach there.

Since the Olympics, you’ve had a strong group of handlers around you. You’re currently trained by Freddie Roach. What’s the transition been like and how have they help your transition from the Olympic team to the Pros.
The transition from Olympics to the pros is getting yourself to be more calm. You got to relax. You just can’t go out there and let you hands go for no reason. Every punch has to be for a reason. I feel so much more confident with Freddie. He teaches so many great things to do. It’s an honor to have Freddie and Justin Fortune in my corner. I learn something new from those guys everyday.
Your Nickname is “the nightmare’ Where did that come from?
That came from the Olympics. Nobody knew who I was when I came and started fighting all the top guy. I started stopping them and actually broke one of their jaws. So after that, whenever i stepped in the ring, everyone called me the “Nightmare”
Vanes, When did you start boxing?
When I was 7 years old, my father took me to the gym

Was your father a fighter?
Yes, he was a fighter also.

Who were some of your idols growing up?
Growing up, it was Oscar De la Hoya and Muhammed Ali. Those were the two i would look up to.

You have a very smooth boxing style. You’re light on your feet, and have quick hands. Do you try and model your style off anyone?
I try to take the good things off of every fighter. See what he does, see what mistakes he makes. When I watch a fight, I don’t only watch what the guy is doing, i watch the mistakes he’s making and the punches he gets hit with. I try and not get hit by those punches. I learn from other fighters, but i have my own style. I try and do my own thing.
What areas do you believe you need to improve?
I feel like I need to use my jab more. I get in there and I try to stop the guy real soon. But working with Freddie, he’s taught me to calm down, work in my jab. We we’re working on developing my jab more, trying to get me to use it more. I mean i have a great jab. They tell me I use it in the gym. It’s just when it comes down to the fight, i know i can hurt the guy with my right hand so i just go out there and try and knock him out with my right hand.
You have a great record, 12-0, 8 KO’s. Do you go in there looking for the Knockout or does it come to you?
With my punching power, I know I can stop the guy. Sometimes I go in there too excited I tell myself if i hit this guy with my punches he not gonna be able take it, but I just go in there and try to stick with the game plan. I just do what Freddie tells me to do.

Who are some of the pros you spar with?
I’ve spared with Antonio Margarito, Roman Karmizan, and Peter Manfredo
We’ve heard Freddie has a hard time finding Sparring partners for you, what do you have to say about that?
(Laughing) Every time anyone comes in the gym talking about how they’re this and that and their gonna be world champion, Freddie says ‘you wanna be World Champion?, get in the ring with Vanes.’ And they go in the ring with me and i spar with them for one or two rounds, and they never come back. Even when I’m trying to work with someone and i hit them one time and i hurt them, they don’t want to spar anymore.
What goals have you set for yourself this year? Where do you see yourself a year from now?
This year to get in the top ten and next year to go for a world title. I know I can beat all the guys. I know I’m capable of beating everybody. I feel like I’m in the best in my weight class right now. I’m trying to get there and stay there, not just get there and lose the title. That’s my plan. To get there on top and stay there and have all the titles just like Bernard Hopkins
You have a strong fan base in the Los Angeles Community, particularly in the Armenian community. Talk a little about the support they are showing you.
The Armenian community has shown me great support. There’s not a day that goes by that people don’t come up to me and say hi, wish me luck, and want to know when my next fight is. I also have a lot of other fans, a strong Mexican fan base. They all show me great love when they see me on the street.
I think your fan base has to do with your exciting fighting style. You’re one of the most exciting young fighters in boxing.

When is your next fight?
My Next fight is April 27th either in Phoenix, AZ or Houston, TX. I’m not sure on the location, but the date is set.

Do you know who your opponent is?
They haven’t announced an opponent yet.

Anything else you want to tell your fans?
Just keep supporting me. We’re going to the top and once we get there we’re going to stay on top. I’m never going to forget you guys and when I become a world champion, I’m not only becoming a world champion we all are becoming world champions.

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Naturally, right-handed, Dawson was trained to fight as a southpaw. His tall figure (6’3″) and long reach have given him a style that’s unique to many world champions. Dawson is one of today’s most brightest rising stars. While many, including us consider him a prospect, he is already the WBC and NABF Light Heavyweight Champion. What is more impressive are his victories over Tomasz Adamek (31-1-21KO’s) and Eric Harding (23-4, 7KO’s).
Dawson is trained by Floyd Mayweather Sr. We see bright things in Dawson’s future and while already a champion, believe that he has a lot more to accomplish in the boxing world.
Chad, thanks for taking the time to do the interview. There’s been a lot of talk about your past two performances against Tomasz Adamek and Eric Harding. How did you get into boxing?
For me, my father was a fighter so I was always around boxing. I was in the gym watching my father train so I was around the boxing game at an early age. I had my first fight when I was 10. My father played an important role in my development as a fighter.
What or who influenced you to go pro at such a young age?
I was 18 when I went pro and had many influences, my father, my trainers, my family. They all had confidence in me and I was confident in my abilities.

What are the biggest differences you’ve noticed between the amatuers and the pros?
(laughter) There’s a difference both physically and mentally. In the amatuers you can take a loss, but in the pros, a loss is a set-back.
With such a young career, what has been your biggest accomplishment so far?
I think my biggest accomplishment so far has been my last fight, winning the WBC title. There’s a lot more I want to do, so I’m not satisfied yet, but its a big accomplishment.
Where do you see yourself in the next few years?
Definitely as the undisputed Light Heavyweight Champion of the world and in the pound-for-pound rankings as the best Light Heavyweight.
What parts of your game do you feel you have to improve?
I think that I have to press my game and finish stronger. Both fights I had Eric Harding and Adamek hurt but needed to take the opportunity to finish them off.
Who would you like to fight next?
I would love to fight Roy [Jones Jr.], Bernard [Hopkins], Tarver [Antonio]. Hopefully they come to their senses and realize to be the best they need to fight me.

Do you see yourself going to heavyweight in the future?
No time soon, maybe in three of four years.

What fighters have influenced your career?
My favorite fighter growing up was Roy. I would love to fight Roy, that would be a dream come true. Floyd Mayweather Jr, De La Hoya, Trinidad, I watched a lot ofdifferent guys when I was coming up.
De La Hoya v.s. Mayweather your pick?
It’s gonna be a good one. De La Hoya is tough, but I’ll have to pick Mayweather.

When are we going to see you in action?
Early June

Do you know who your opponent is?
No opponent yet, but we got the date. We’ll know in the next week – hopefully Glen Johnson.

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His exciting fighting style and ring generalship have caught the eyes of many in the boxing world. Resembling the hand-speed of Sugar Ray Leonard and the power of Marvin Haggler, Berto has a bright future ahead of him.
Andre, thanks for taking the time out to talk to us. Tell us about your experiences at the Olympics?
It was great to go to the Olympics. Going to the Olympics was a dream come true for me. Growing up as a kid I always watched it [Olympic Games] and it was definitely a dream come true to walk in the open ceremony and compete. It definitely was a lifelong goal that I achieved.

How has the transition been from the Amateurs to becoming a professional fighter?
I believe the transition was a little easier for me because even in the amateurs I had more of a professional style. Growing up I trained and sparred with pros. The amateurs point system was a little different so it took some time to adjust my style. But now in the pros, I feel like I’m at home, I just had to make a slight transition.

Who are some of the pros that you train with?
Since going pro, I worked a lot with Winky Wright , Jeff Lacy, Chad Dawson, Sharmba Mitchell.
They all have quite different styles. Are you able to pull things from them and how much have they contributed to your performances?
I’ve learned so much from those guys. I try to go in there and learn every time. Winky is one of the best southpaws ever in the game and Lacy is more compact, a lot of power. You know, Chad Dawson is a southpaw, has a lot of range. I try to take a little bit from all those guys and incorporate them in my own style. I’ve learned a tremendous amount from them.
Who were some of your idols growing up?
I am a student of the game – I loved Sugar Ray Leonard, Marvin Haggler, Tyson, Ray Robinson and Jack Johnson.
You have a very exciting boxing style and have knocked-out all but two of your opponents. Do you look for KOs?
I believe that it really comes naturally. I don’t look to go in there and go crazy and overwhelm my opponent. I try to be dominant. For me when I step in that ring, its my spirit to go out there and try to be dominant every second of every round. But its my nature and spirit to use my speed and power in the ring

In what areas do you feel you need to improve the most?
I am still definitely a work in progress. I’m my biggest critic. I still need work on foot movement and jab. Keep my hands up and overall movement in the ring. I look every time to be a complete fighter.

Where do you see yourself in 5 yrs?
Definitely on top of the game. Not just world champion, but pound-for-pound the best in the game. To be recognized as the best in every weight class in boxing. I’m just going to continue to work towards that.
We have this years super fight between Oscar de la Hoya and Floyd Mayweather Jr. What do you feel this does for boxing and what is your prediction?
Definitely good for boxing. Boxing has been on a slump lately because the heavyweight division hasn’t been up to par. I don’t have a pick in this fight because it can go so many different ways, Mayweather can box and move his way to victory and de la Hoya can cut off the ring and put Mayweather away. Its up in the air for me so I say the best man wins.

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