Tonight, at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, we’ll have an action-packed fight between two Mexican warriors in Oscar Duarte (28-2-1, 22 KOs) and Miguel Madueño (31-3, 28 KOs).

(Credit: Chris Esqueda/Golden Boy)

For  Duarte, it’s a steady continuation of his ascension into superstardom. He’s captured consecutive victories against JoJo Diaz and Bortirzhon Akhmedov and now seeks his third win. Under world-renowned trainer Robert Garcia, Duarte has improved, and his progression is noticeable. He is more controlled, utilizes the jab more, and defends better. He’ll need an effective jab and impenetrable defense against a volume, pressure fighter like Madueño.

Keyshawn Davis fought Miguel Madueño in July of last year and was able to diminish his pressure attack by utilizing the jab effectively. Miguel was frustrated at his inability to land punches; he connected on only 14 percent of his punches (63 of 461). Along with the jab, Keyshawn utilized lateral movement, making it difficult for Madueño to land. Although they fought a full 10-round match, Miguel didn’t relent and continued to pressure Keyshawn for the full 30-minute match. It was the stick jab that kept Madueño at bay and allowed Keyshawn to  be successful offensively. Keyshawn landed 49 percent of his total punches (194 of 398), which is three times what Miguel landed.

The other approach Duarte can take is not recommended due to the amount of damage he can incur but could be the one he takes instinctively due to his warrior-like spirit, which is to stay in the pocket and take it to Madueño similar to how Steve Claggett fought him in their 10-round slugfest. Miguel is a purely offensive fighter; he does not know how to defend. His guard is penetrable, has little to no head movement, and simply knows how to go forward. His best defense is his offense. He pressures fighters for the full match. He does tend to slow down as the fight wears on. He is dangerous early, but his speed and power diminish in the later rounds.

Steve Claggett absorbed the early onslaught and fought him at close quarters, landing an astonishing 512 punches in 30 minutes. Madueño was not able to defend Claggett’s attack, and if Duarte utilizes the jab effectively, he can be successful in keeping Madueño at bay and minimizing his offensive attack. Duarte is not an agile or mobile boxer, but some movement would help misdirect Miguel’s attack. Madueño is an experienced veteran who knows opportunities like this one may not present themselves again in the future. He will seek to

capitalize on this opportunity. Madueño was named the last-minute replacement due to an injury Regis Prograis suffered in camp. He will do everything in his power to win the match.  Madueño is a much more dangerous opponent than what the declining Regis Prograis would  have posed due to his volume and power. Prograis has suffered consecutive losses to Devin  Haney and Jack Catterall. This is Duarte’s fight to lose if he can stay disciplined, utilize the jab, and use his guard to defend Madueño’s volume.