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YOUNG FIGHTERS TO LOOK OUT FOR IN 2012 – PART 4
By: Frank Rivera
 
  
The next set of fighters are a mix of unknown and known fighters in boxing. Some of these names will sound familiar to some and not so familiar to others. Let’s take a look at these five young fighters that I believe you the boxing fans should keep an eye out for in 2012.
 
1. Luis Del Valle (15-0, 11 KO’s):
 
Luis “Orlandito” Del Valle is a young undefeated Puerto Rican Featherweight, who is related to former WBO Bantamweight Champion Rafael Del Valle. Orlandito began boxing at the age of 14 at the Caná Boxing Club in Bayamon, Puerto Rico.  Orlandito trained at this gym for his first amateur fight which he lost but with hard work and determination, Orlandito was able to put that loss behind him and continued to develop as a fighter in an impressive manner,  in one year he became Puerto Rico’s National Junior Olympics champion. Orlandito represented the island at the 2004 under 19 World Championships in Korea. Orlandito was too young to try out for  the 2004 Olympic team, but his trainer wanting to continue to develop Orlandito, sent him to New York where he won both the New York and National Golden Gloves tournaments fighting out of the Newburgh Boxing Club. Orlandito’s was invited to the United States national team. 
 
photo by: Tom Casino

Amateur career:

  • Rank #1 in USA Amateurs Rankings at 125 lbs
  • USA Elite Team Member
  • 2007 USA Team Pan Am Member
  • 2004 National Golden Gloves Champion at 125 Lbs
  • 3 Times NY Golden Gloves Champion at 125 lbs
  • 2006 International Tournament Jose “Cheo” Aponte Gold Medalist In Caguas,Puerto Rico
  • Ken Goff Memorial Boxing Classic Champion In Regina,Canada
  • 2006 Six Nation Cup Gold Medalist in Porto Torres, Italy
  • 2006 USA World Cup Team Member 
  • 2005 USA Under 19 National Champion 125 Lbs
  • 2005 International Tammer Tournament Bronze Medalist In Tampere,Finland
  • Attend the 2004 Under 19 World Championship Tournament in Jeju City,Korea representing his country Puerto Rico.
  • 2004 Under 19 Puerto Rico National Champion at 125 lbs
Orlandito spent eight years in amateurs with a record of a record of 112-14 before he turned pro. Orlandito made his professional debut on April 11, 2008 defeating Rey Rivera by knockout in the third round. In his second professional fight, Orlandito had an impressive first round knockout over  Emanuel Rose. In August 26, 2010 Orlandito signed with Lou Dibella of Dibella Entertainment allowing him the opportunity to one day land a big fight. I had the pleasure to watch Orlandito live, he was impressive and even though he was in a tough fight, he showed that he has the talent and the intelligence to adjust to his opponent. Luis “Orlandito” Del Valle is a fighter that I am going to keep a close eye on in 2012.
 
 
2. Antonio DeMarco (26-2, 19 KO’s):
 
Antonio de Marco Soto is a southpaw boxer and the current WBC Lightweight Champion, cousin of three division World Champion Humberto Soto. DeMarco won an interim belt after he defeated Jose Alfaro in 10 rounds before the referee stopped the fight. Demarco won every round before dropping Alfaro three times in the 10th round claiming the Interim WBC Lightweight Title. Demarco’s would continue his unbeaten streak to 15-0-1 with 12 consecutive wins, since losing a six-round, majority decision to Anthony Vasquez in February 2006 and have a draw with Curtis Meeks in October of 2006. Antonio was able to put himself in line to face the WBC Lightweight Champion, Edwin Valero. DeMarco was unsuccessful in his attempt to capture the WBC Lightweight Title against Edwin Valero. After 9 punishing rounds, DeMarco’s corner stopped the fight to put a stop to the vicious beating DeMarco was taking.
demarco linares
On October 15, 2011 DeMarco faced two division champion Jorge Linares for the vacant WBC Lightweight Title at the Staples Center in Las Angles, California, on the Bernard Hopkins vs Chad Dawson undercard. The fight would be a candidate for Fight of the Year, as both fighters put on a performance for the fans. In the end,  DeMarco would stop Linares in the 11th round, do to a cut above Linares’s right eye.
 
If you favor the slugger, pressure fighter, with a lot of heart, then DeMarco is defiantly a fighter that you need to keep an eye out for in 2012.
 
3. Gennady Golovkin (22-0, 19 KO’s):
 
Gennady Gennadyevich Golovkin of  Kazakhstan is the current WBA Middleweight Champion. Golovkin is starting to make his name known to the world, with an impressive 9 consecutive knockout victories dating back until November of 2008.  Golovkin turned pro in Germany on May 6, 2006 as he faced Gabor Balog, he won the fight by KO Balog in the first round. There has been many fighters that have suffered a KO loss at the hands of Golovkin who is starting to gain popularity because of it.
Gennady Golovkin
Golovkin has an impressive amateur background as well. In 2003 at the  World Amateur Championships in Bangkok, Golovkin won the gold medal by beating future two-time champion Matvey Korobov, Andy Lee, Lucian Bute, Yordanis Despaigne and Oleg Mahskin.  
 
Gennady Golovkin at 29 years of age is not a “young” fighter but is a fighter that is worth keeping an eye on in 2012. 

4. Julio Ceja (18-0, 17 KO’S):
 
 
Julio Cesar Ceja Pedraza is a 19 year old undefeated Flyweight from Mexico, who made his professional debut at the young age of 16 in 2009. In his first fight, he faced Floro Carranza in a four round fight, Ceja scored a TKO in the first round when the referee stopped the fight. Ceja won his second fight by unanimous decision and since that fight, he has KO 16 consecutive opponent so far.  He is still young and gain experience as he moves along in his boxing career, but the kid does have the talent to become a champion at Flyweight. Ceja might be a long way before we see him in a title fight but we should keep an eye on this young Mexican warrior from Tlalnepantla, Mexico.
 
5. Diego Magdaleno (21-0, 7 KO’s):
 
Diego Armando Magdaleno is an undefeated Mexican-American boxer in the Super Featherweight division and the current NABF Super Featherweight Champion. He is the older brother of undefeated  boxer in the Super Bantamweight division, Jesse Magdaleno. Magdaleno originally started out boxing as a right-handed boxer but was later turned into a southpaw fighter by trainer Kelcie Banks. He is a solid fighter with good skills, movement, conditioning and has a strong amateur background, with Magdaleno becoming the 2007 United States Amateur Lightweight Champion.
D.Magdaleno Lucero 111111 001a
photo by: Chris Farina
 
Magdaleno is exciting to watch, always ready to go to war with whomever is placed in front of him. Hopefully, we will see him in the ring with tougher opponents to really see his full potential. 
 
Make sure you to come back for part 5 of, Young Fighters To Look Out For In 2012.
 
 
 
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