The Nevada State Athletic Commission is considering punishment for Yenifel Vicente after repeated low blows to Jessie Magdaleno led to Vicente’s disqualification in Thursday night’s Top Rank main event.
Vicente had four points deducted for low blows throughout the fight before referee Robert Byrd stopped the fight in the middle of the 10th round. Vicente lost two points for a low blow and late shot to Magdaleno’s head in the fourth round, another point in the fourth round for a low blow and then a fourth point deduction in the final round.
Magdaleno told ESPN on Friday that he felt Vicente was frustrated. In addition to taking shots to the groin, Magdaleno also took hits on his thighs and a knee and said that he felt Vicente’s tactics were “dirty.”
“I think he should be penalized,” Magdaleno said. “I think he should be penalized for what he did. It was just a foul move that he did. He just couldn’t catch my rhythm. He couldn’t catch my speed or my power so, to me, I think he should be penalized for that.
“It was uncalled for.”
Bob Bennett, the executive director of the Nevada State Athletic Commission, told ESPN on Friday they are looking into possible discipline for Vicente.
“There were several shots below the belt,” Bennett said. “Subsequent, referee Byrd took points and as the executive director I am considering moving forward with a recommendation of a suspension or a letter of reprimand to Vicente.”
Before any discipline would be decided on, Vicente would present his case to the Nevada State Athletic Commission and the commission would weigh whether there was an intent to injure Magdaleno consistently before deciding on a possible fine or suspension.
The deputy attorney general would lay out the facts of the case, and whatever Bennett recommended as far as a suspension or a reduction of his purse. It would then be up to the chairman and the commissioners to agree with Bennett’s assessment or deliberate publicly about an appropriate punishment.
“They should suspend him for a while,” Magdaleno said. “It’s just, I don’t wish nothing bad upon him but something should happen. They should do something to either suspend him for the rest of the year or take something from his pay.
“It sucks to be in that position. I wouldn’t want any fighter to go through that. It does suck and it does bring a lot of wear and tear on you.”
Magdaleno said Friday he kept wondering throughout the fight when Byrd might disqualify Vicente and that he was getting fed up with being continually hit low. He also felt Vicente’s punch to Magdaleno’s head after a low blow in the fourth round — while Byrd was trying to step in — was dirty.
Regardless, Magdaleno said he woke up Friday incredibly sore from repeated low shots.
“I’m sore as hell,” Magdaleno said. “I’m telling you, I feel like the lower half of my body has been through a marathon and it was 10 rounds and it just felt like a marathon run I’ve been through. And just the whole marathon I’m being hit in my nuts.
“That’s what it felt like.”