Magdaleno stops Jimenez after five

The only knock on junior lightweight prospect Diego Magdaleno was that lacked knockout power. The Las Vegas resident only scored three stoppages during his first 15 pro bouts.

However, Magdaleno (18-0, 6 knockouts) is quickly changing that perception. The 24-year-old southpaw began the year with an impressive TKO of Marcos Jimenez after five rounds of the scheduled 10-round main event of a Top Rank Live! show from Las Vegas on Saturday. It was the third consecutive knockout victory for Magdaleno, who earned a regional title in front of his hometown fans.

The former U.S. amateur champ dropped Jimenez (18-3, 12 KOs) with a right hook in the opening round of the bout and proceeded to pressure and out-work the polished boxer from the Dominican Republic over the next four rounds.

Magdaleno, who is known for his good jab and footwork, did not simply rush Jimenez. He threw accurate combinations, ruthlessly attacked Jimenez’s body and worked angles when in close.

Magdaleno rocked Jimenez back into a corner with a straight left near the end of the fifth round and swarmed him for the final 30 seconds. Jimenez’s corner had seen enough and stopped the bout between rounds.

Featherweight prospect Roberto Marroquin had the look of a future titelholder in the co-featured bout of the Fox Deportes/Fox Sports Net broadcast. The 21-year-old Dallas native displayed the form and poise of a seasoned veteran in dispatching Eduardo Arcos, of Tijuana, in the fourth round of a scheduled eight-round bout.

Marroquin (18-0, 14 KOs) patiently stalked Arcos before dropping the aggressive puncher twice in the fourth round with picture perfect counter left hooks. The first hook froze Arcos (17-3, 14 KOs) in mid-swing, sending him to the canvas sideways, where he took an eight count from referee Kenny Bayless. Arcos was immediately rocked and dropped by another hook from Marroquin and Bayless wisely called the fight off without a count.

In the opening bout of the Top Rank Live! show, Jesse Magdaleno (2-0, 2 KOs), Diego’s younger brother, displayed polished and punishing form in stopping Cain Garcia (0-2) in the third round of a scheduled four-round bout.

The 19-year-old former amateur standout, who is a southpaw like his older brother, dominated his game-but-outgunned opponent from the opening bell. Magdaleno dropped Garcia with straight left-right hook combination in the third round. Referee Tony Weeks halted the bout at 2:14 of the round.