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J. Magdaleno to kick off Top Rank's 2015

Top Rank will kick off its 2015 with a UniMas-televised card from the Texas Station Gambling Hall and Casino in Las Vegas on Jan. 10.

Las Vegas junior featherweight prospect Jessie Magdaleno (19-0, 15 KOs), the 23-year-old younger brother of lightweight contender Diego Magdaleno, will headline the card in an eight-round bout against Oxnard, California’s Erik Ruiz (13-1, 6 KOs), also 23.

Magdaleno is trained by Joel Diaz in Palm Springs, California, so he has been in camp with Diaz’s other fighters, including former welterweight titleholders Timothy Bradley Jr. and Victor Ortiz, both of whom fought last weekend.

Magdaleno, a former standout amateur, is one of Top Rank’s blue-chip prospects and could move toward a title fight in 2015. That is certainly Diaz’s hope.

"Jessie Magdaleno is among the best worldwide in his division,” Diaz said. “He's explosive, has power in both hands and has great defense. He is getting close to fighting for a world title."

In the co-feature, Riverside, California, junior lightweight prospect Saul Rodriguez (15-0-1, 12 KOs), 21, will face an opponent to be named in an eight-rounder. East Los Angeles featherweight prospect Vic Pasillas (8-0, 3 KOs), 22, will also be on the card in a six-rounder.