SANTISIMA CHALLENGES NAVARRETE FOR THE WBO SUPER BANTAMWEIGHT TITLE
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 01 Feb 2020
World Boxing Organization No. 5 super bantamweight contender Jeo "Santino" Santisima (19-2, 16 KOs) will challenge champion Emanuel "Vaquero" Navarrete, a.k.a "The Mexican Iron Man" (30-1, 26 KOs) on February 22 on the undercard of Deontay Wilder vs. Tyson Fury at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. Many analysts consider the 23-year-old Santisima as a good fighter, but they identified him as the underdog and not at the same level as Navarrete.
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Navarrete picked an opponent who is willing to take the challenge on short notice. The ALA Gym fighter was notified of the fight with only five weeks of preparation. The Mexican champion wants to fight four times in 2020, and fight against whoever fighter is available and Santisima took the challenge.
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Navarrete has proven himself as one of the best if not the best fighter in the super bantamweight division since beating Isaac Dogboe by a 12 round unanimous decision. Santisima also has improved a lot and was undefeated in the last six years. The two guys that beat Santisima no longer fight. They were Roniel Parcon during Santisima's debut in 2013 by unanimous decision and Marlon Arcilla in 2014 by majority decision.
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Navarrete is undefeated in eight years since losing to Daniel Argueta by a 4 round unanimous decision in 2012. He has triumphed in his last 25 fights since then. Since winning the WBO belt from Isaac Dogboe in 2018, Navarrete has defended it 4 times successfully and defeated Isaac Dogboe by 12th round TKO in a rematch, Juan Miguel Elorde by 4th round TKO, Francisco Horta by 4th round TKO, and Francisco De Vaca by 3rd round TKO.
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Navarrete's quick turnaround didn’t affect his fighting when he knocked Juan Miguel Elorde out in the fourth round to retain his WBO belt. He had just fought on August 17, when he pummeled overmatched Francisco De Vaca in three rounds. Navarrete fought again barely one month after as part of the boxing card on September 14, in order for Top Rank to feature a Mexican fighter on Mexican Independence weekend as undercard of the Tyson Fury vs. Otto Wallin fight.
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Elorde (28-2, 15 KO) was still unproven in the world boxing scene, except for his famous last name as grandson of the legendary Flash Elorde. Navarrete dropped Elorde late in the third, whose face had shown signs of the punishment. In the fourth, Elorde absorbed a few more blows and the referee stopped the fight to save the Filipino from further damage.
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Aside from Elorde, Navarrete also has beaten two other Filipino opponents. He made a short workout on Glenn Porras whom he stopped by 2nd round TKO in January 2018. He also annihilated Jhon Gemino by 5th round TKO in June 2017.
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“Santisima is training and will be ready for Navarrete,” said Michael Aldrguer, CEO of ALA Sports Promotions who handles Santisima.
Aldeguer added Santisima had been targeting to fight for Navarrete’s WBO title belt since last year. Santisima is doing his best that he won’t suffer the same fate as that of Elorde, Porras and Gemino.
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Santisima, from Aroroy, Masbate, last fought on December 14, scoring a third-round stoppage over Rene Dacquel of Manabo, Abra at the Bogo City Sports Complex. He has won his last 17 bouts after going 2-2 in his first four fights as a pro. He won the WBO Oriental super bantamweight title by demolishing Likit Thani of Thailand in the first round at the Maasin City Gym.
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“I really appreciate this opportunity as this has been my dream since I was a kid,” said Santisima, as quoted by The Ring. “For this fight, I will train and prepare to become the new champion. I don’t feel any pressure. I will just do my best on fight night to show the world who I am. I heard and read the news that this fight is a mismatch, but I will do my best to give a great night.”
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TALE OF THE TAPE
Professional record
Navarrete 30-1-0
Santisima 19-2-0
KOs (KO %)
Navarrete 26 (83.87%)
Santisima 16 (76.19%)
Weight
Navarrete 122 lbs (55.45 kg)
Santisima 122 lbs (55.45 kg)
Height
Navarrete 5'7" (1.7 m)
Santisima 5'6" (1.68 m)
Reach
Navarrete 72" (183 cm)
Santisima 67½" (172 cm)
Stance
Navarrete Orthodox
Santisima Orthodox
Age
Navarrete 25
Santisima 23
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