After Controversial Decision Loss, Bantamweight Alejandro Santiago Wants Gary Antonio Russell Rematch as World Title Eliminator
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 02 Dec 2021
Alejandro Santiago.
Accustomed to boxing’s ups and downs, Mexican bantamweight contender Alejandro “Peque” Santiago says he’s not going to let his nationally televised and highly controversial majority-decision loss to Gary Antonio Russell last Saturday night (November 27) slow him down.
With the Showtime cameras rolling at Park MGM’s Dolby Live in Las Vegas, Santiago (24-3-5, 13 KOs) and Russell fought a grueling all-out war for ten rounds with many feeling Santiago’s pressuring style had outshined the undefeated Russell’s speed after 10 intense rounds.
However, once again it was not to be for the hard-luck Santiago, as Russell was given the nod via a questionable majority-decision. Judges Steve Morrow and Benoit Roussel scored Russell a 96-94 winner, while Judge Lisa Giampa scored the contest a draw at 95-95.
The “victim” of several controversial draws against top fighters in high-profile fights, including one particularly dubious draw against IBF Super Flyweight Champion Jerwin Ancajas in 2018, 25-year-old Santiago, from Tijuana, Baja California, says he’s not shocked or disheartened by the loss to Russell.
“I wasn’t shocked because I have been here before,” explained Santiago, post-fight. “My team had warned me that the closer rounds will go to Russell because he is the house fighter. When my promoter Paco Damian calls me for an opportunity like this, I never say no. I embrace the opportunity and I don’t care if I have to go and fight my opponents in their backyard. I mean, look at my record I have five draws, I believe I won all those fights including the Jerwin Ancajas world title fight.”
In fact, the realistic Santiago surprisingly blames himself for the setback.
“I don’t like to use the term robbed,” said Santiago. “In my opinion, I thought I won 6 of the 10 rounds. It was a very close fight and there is no one here to blame but me. I blame myself because it took me the first couple of rounds to make adjustments and follow our game plan.”
Despite the disappointment, Santiago says his strong performance against Russell, a celebrated 2016 U.S. Olympian, negates any career damage he may suffer.
“I would love the opportunity to fight Russell again, I think it was a great fight and I’m sure many people will love to watch us do it again. And this time, I would like it to be for a title eliminator that will give the winner the opportunity to fight for a world title. But if Russell doesn’t want another war that I will bring, we move on. My career has been defined by people underestimating me and paying the price for their mistake. I’ll be back.”
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
BOXING LEGEND: JIMMY CARRUTHERS
By Ray Dunbar, Fri, 19 Jun 2026WEIGHTS FROM LONG BEACH H2O SYLVE vs. JOJO DIAZ
Fri, 19 Jun 2026Collazo vs. Valdez Final Press Conference Quotes
Fri, 19 Jun 2026Alex Eala beats World No.2 Elena Rybakina
By Marlon Bernardino, Fri, 19 Jun 2026Undefeated Cuban Middleweight Pedro Veitia Scores Electrifying Stoppage of Previously Unbeaten Taiwo Afolabi
Fri, 19 Jun 2026Riyadh Season boxing events will stream free starting in November
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Fri, 19 Jun 2026Heavyweight Contender Gustavo "The Cuban Assassin" Trujillo Returns June 28 in Main Event of "Fist of Fury 11"
Fri, 19 Jun 2026DC Eagles routs Perfect, 5-1 in R5
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 19 Jun 2026PCCI Las Piñas Leaders to Visit Lipa for the June 20 JCI Rapid Chess Tournament
Fri, 19 Jun 2026Engr. Allan Anthony Alvarez eyes five squads in JCI Senate Lipa 3X3 Open Rapid Chess Tournament on June 20
By Marlon Bernardino, Fri, 19 Jun 2026PACHECO CLASHES WITH ALEEM ON STACKED LA CARD
Thu, 18 Jun 2026Rising Mexican Contender Neider Valdez Steps in to Face Pound-for-Pound Puerto Rican Champion Oscar “El Pupilo” Collazo in WBA, WBO and Ring Magazine Minimumweight World Championship Fight
Thu, 18 Jun 2026Sumabong to defend WBO title against undefeated Taiwanese on July 11 in Bohol
By Lito delos Reyes, Wed, 17 Jun 2026Jordan Orozco Remains Perfect with Dominant Third-Round TKO of Fernando Diaz on MVP/Boxlab Card in Orlando
Wed, 17 Jun 2026Floyd Mayweather Jr could face charges of fraud in Las Vegas
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Wed, 17 Jun 2026