Oscar Duarte’s February 15 fight at The Honda Center in Anaheim might still go ahead as planned despite the recent setback.
A reliable source confirmed that Duarte and Miguel Madueno have reached a verbal agreement to face each other, and contractual details are expected to be finalized soon. This news comes on the heels of another last-minute change for Duarte, who previously replaced an injured fighter in his bout against Botirzhon Akhmedov last November.
Miguel Madueno, the 26-year-old contender, hails from Orange, California by way of Guasave, Mexico. Although he has lost two of his last three fights, including a unanimous decision loss to Keyshawn Davis, Madueno remains a dangerous opponent. Notably, he has never been knocked down or stopped in his eight-year pro career.
Watch Madueno vs. Davis highlights: Watch
Duarte, now 29, from Parral, Mexico, is coming off two consecutive wins since his knockout loss to Ryan Garcia in December 2023. With his recent form and a WBA ranking of No. 9 at 140 pounds, Duarte will keep building momentum, even if it means facing replacement fighters in consecutive bouts.
Meanwhile, Prograis took to social media to express his frustration, posting, “All that sacrifice and training for nothing.”
Who wins? Duarte or Madueno?
Read more about Oscar Duarte here.
Image Credit: ProBox TV