SANTISIMA HOPES TO REVIVE PACQUIAO-LEDWABA AGAINST NAVARRETE
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 18 Feb 2020
The highly anticipated rematch between undefeated WBC heavyweight world champion Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder and unbeaten lineal heavyweight champion Tyson “The Gypsy King” Fury on Saturday, February 22 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas has the PPV featured bouts starting with WBO superbantamweight world champion Emanuel “Vaquero” Navarrete, a.k.a “The Mexican Iron Man” defending his title against Filipino No. 5 contender Jeo "Santino" Santisima.
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Navarrete told the Mexican reporters that he is very confident of emerging victorious in his title fight. “I am more than ready for my fifth defense. I always prepare 100% and go out for the knockout. I know that the Filipino has never been knocked out, so then I will be the first,” said Navarrete.
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“I’m very happy to fight again in Las Vegas and on a card that will get the world’s attention with the rematch between (Deontay) Wilder against (Tyson) Fury. We will arrive with great preparation, in great rhythm and give everything inside the ring. The championship will return to Mexico,” declared Navarrete who is sure of successfully defending his title for the fifth time.
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He said he is not taking his opponent lightly. "The Filipino rival, Jeo Santisima, is very strong, very tough, hits hard and durable, but we will impose the conditions because if we let him take the initiative, it can cost us dearly. We are motivated and confident, and backed by a great preparation," Navarrete said.
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Navarrete (30-1, 26 KOs with 84% KO rate) is undefeated in eight years since losing to Daniel Argueta by a 4 round unanimous decision in July 2012. He has triumphed in his last 25 fights since then. Since winning the WBO belt from Isaac Dogboe in December 2018, Navarrete has defended his title four times successfully and defeated 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 (R) stops Juan Miguel Elorde.
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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The 23-year-old Santisima (19-2, 16 KOs with 76% KO rate) is on a 17-fight winning streak, having last tasted defeat to Marlon Arcilla in 2014. He also lost to Roniel Parcon on his professional debut on 2013. He considered both losses as hometown decisions. “Santino” has never fought outside the Philippines or has faced any world class competition.
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Casino sports bookies reportedly wouldn’t take bets on this bout, with Santisima a huge underdog. Some boxing websites give him only 8% chance of winning over Navarrete. The ALA Gym standout is not at all influenced by the underdog tag and hoping as an inspiration that he can do what Manny Pacquiao did to the highly favored South African Lehlo Ledwaba in June 2001 when Manny shocked the boxing world.
Santisima (L) connects with a left to the jaw of Likit Chane of Thailand.
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Pacquiao, despite fighting six years as a professional, was an unknown boxer when he replaced Enrique Sanchez on just two weeks notice to challenge IBF super bantamweight champion Ledwaba. Before his first Las Vegas fight and live via HBO, Pacquiao had only fought three times outside the Philippines in 34 career bouts, and this includes a title fight with Medgoen Singsurat in September 1999 in Thailand that made him fail to make weight and then got him a terrible knock out in the third round.
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Pacquiao (R) pressures Ledwaba.
To the surprise of several fans of the boxing world Pacquiao completely dominated Ledwaba, dropped him three times and a straight left hand floored him to the canvas for good for a TKO victory in round six. Pacquiao just received $40,000 for the surprising triumph. It ignited a very colorful career that includes victories over the best boxers of the globe.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
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