Lightweight Prospect Jose Nunez On the Path to Great Things
On October 4, Jose “El Magnifico” Nunez (16-0-2, 7KO) cemented his status as one of the young prospects to watch in the lightweight division by handing Omar Salcido (17-1, 12KO) his first loss.
Nunez is beloved by the people of Panama City, who view him as a local hero. In 2017, he was the recipient of the prestigious title of Prospect of the Year from the Panamanian Boxing Commission. His skills caught the attention of Sampson Lewkowicz of Sampson Boxing, who wasted no time signing the gifted southpaw in 2021.
Nunez is now starting to generate some buzz in the boxing world, thanks to his impressive performance against Salcido. Right from the opening bell, he showcased superior footwork, solid defense, and precise counterpunching. El Magnifico consistently landed laser-straight left hands followed by sharp right hook counters, keeping Salcido off balance.
RISING TO THE OCCASION
Notably, Nunez demonstrated his willingness to stand toe-to-toe with the hard-hitting Salcido, effectively employing blistering counter-hooks to the body. The highlight of the fight came when he unleashed a powerful pull-counter left hand that sent Salcido to the canvas in both the third and seventh rounds. He would secure a sound, unanimous decision victory.
El Magnificao has shown remarkable grown in recent fights under new trainer Rigoberto Garibaldi. Garibaldi has produced world champions such as Ricardo Mayorga, and Rosendo Alvarez. By adopting a more disciplined style, Nunez has won three of his last five fights by knockout, showcasing his potential. His success was bound to happen considering fellow Panamanian Anselmo Moreno, who holds the record as the longest-reigning bantamweight champion in boxing, served as his mentor.
The lightweight division continues to attract talented young fighters destined for future world title bouts, and Nunez is certainly on that trajectory. He he has the potential to trouble anyone in the division if he continues on this path.
