Magdalenos serve as role models

Diego Magdaleno is busy preparing for his April 6 WBO super featherweight title fight against Rocky Martinez in Macau, China. But he’s not too busy to be a role model for Las Vegas’ youth.

Magdaleno and younger brother Jesse spoke to students at Frias Elementary School for Career Day on Friday. And while most parents wouldn’t want boxing to be their children’s first choice of vocation, the students were fascinated by the sport’s trappings as the Magdalenos brought boxing gloves, their title belts and a video of themselves.

“I want to be a role model for these kids,” the 26-year-old Diego Magdaleno said. “It all starts here — in school. You want to be the best you can be in school because it prepares you for life.”

The Magdalenos appeared as a favor to their trainer Augie Sanchez, who works at the school.

“Diego and Jesse are achieving their dreams right now,” Sanchez said. “I want the kids to see that dreams can come true if you work hard and you believe.”

Diego Magdaleno (23-0, nine knockouts) said everything is going well in camp, and his injured left wrist and hand have healed. “We’ve got our game plan in place,” he said. “We brought in good sparring partners who come right at you like Martinez does.”

Magdaleno leaves March 27 for China. Before then, he’ll attend the junior featherweight bout between Jesse Magdaleno (13-0, nine KOs) and Carlos Fulgencio (19-9-1, 12 KOs) on Saturday in Carson, Calif. The fight is on the undercard of the Timothy Bradley-Ruslan Provodnikov WBO welterweight title fight.

Pat Barry, who also trains the Magdalenos, said Diego has looked sharp. “We went eight rounds of sparring Thursday and eight more Friday,” Barry said. “I couldn’t be happier with the way Diego’s preparing for this fight. His mind is good. He’s in tremendous shape physically.”

Magdaleno told the students he plans to return to Frias, this time with a different belt. But what if he loses to Martinez? One second-grader said to him, “If you ever lose, I’m going to beat them up.”

Martinez better look out. Those second-graders can be mighty tough.

■ DECISION CHANGED — Ishe Smith didn’t need to sweat as much as he did when he defeated Cornelius Bundrage on Feb. 23 to win the IBF junior middleweight title.

It originally was announced that the 34-year-old Las Vegan had been awarded a 12-round split decision in Detroit. But ring announcer Jimmy Lennon Jr. had been given the wrong score on judge Dave Hess’ scorecard.

Hess originally had the 39-year-old Bundrage (32-5, 19 KOs) winning 114-113. But a recalculation of his card by the Michigan Unarmed Combat Commission showed that Hess’ scorecard should have read 114-114, thus making it a majority decision for Smith (25-5, 11 KOs). The scores from judges Herb Santos and Gerard White had Smith ahead 116-111.

■ GOLDEN GLOVES — A Golden Gloves Regional tournament will take place Saturday and March 17 at Barry’s Boxing.

The tournament, a qualifier for the Golden Gloves National Championships in Salt Lake City from May 13 to 18, will feature fighters in 10 weight classes from Nevada, Washington, Oregon and Arizona.

The first bell for Saturday’s preliminaries is at 3 p.m., with the March 17 title bouts beginning at 2 p.m. Tickets, priced at $10, will be available at the door.

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow him on Twitter: @stevecarprj.