On February 24, 1992, Magdaleno won the California State Light-Heavyweight title by knocking out Bomani Parker in round five.
Later that year, Magdaleno held off Tim Hillie to claim the IBF USBA Light-Heavyweight title.
German newspaper Hamburger Abendblatt described Magdaleno as a "tough fighter with limited technical skills".
[2] Fighting in front of a sell-out crowd of 13,500 in Dortmund's Westfalenhalle, Magdaleno dominated the early stages of the bout, before being stopped by T/KO in round nine,[5] after having suffered a cut above the eye.
Driving in Huntington Beach, California, Magdaleno's car was hit by a vehicle, which fled from police.