MASAM SPORTS 7: JEO SANTISIMA IN INTENSE TRAINING AT WILD CARD GYM
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 10 Jan 2022
Santisima (L) poses with Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach in Los Angeles.
World Boxing Organization (WBO) No. 8 contender Jeo “Santino” Santisima is now in intense training in the United States for his showdown against American Joet Gonzales on February 5 at the Save Mart Center in Fresno, California.
Santisima, age 25 years, of Aroroy, Masbate, arrived in Los Angeles, California last December 31 accompanied by his long time trainer, Michael Domingo, who was also his mentor at the defunct ALA Boxing Gym.
They immediately buckled down to training at the famous Wild Card Gym of coach Freddie Roach in Los Angeles alongside world-class fighters.
According to Santisima, he trained with former stablemate and WBO international featherweight champion Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo and former world champion Marlon Tapales at the Wild Card Gym.
“This is my second time in training here at Wild Card. My first training here, that was for my fight with (Emanuel) Navarrete. I have trained here for at least one week,” said Santisima as quoted by Cebu Daily News.
He said his training was more fruitful because he was able to spar with International Boxing Federation (IBF) super flyweight champion Jerwin Ancajas and Armenian world title challenger Azat Hovhannisyan.
“We had a sparring with champ Jerwin Ancajas. I'm still adjusting because I have just arrived,” commented Santisima in local dialect when he commenced his sparring sessions at Wild Card.
Santisima also had some sparring sessions with four-division world champion Donnie Nietes in Cebu before leaving for the United States.
Santisima sparred with Ancajas in rigid preparation for a big fight against two-time world title challenger Joet Gonzalez, the WBO No. 5 contender.
”It was great. I’m still adjusting here but our sparring was nice. He followed my opponent’s style and became a pressure fighter,” Santisima told SunStar Cebu.
“Their sparring went great even though it was Jeo’s first sparring here at the Wild Card. He did very well not to get outboxed even though he’s still adjusting. He didn’t show any signs of getting tired. We are thankful to Jerwin that he followed the style of Gonzalez. I expect Jeo to show a better performance in his next sparring,” Santisima’s trainer Michael Domingo added.
Domingo revealed that Brendan Gibbons will be hiring a sparring partner that has a similar orthodox fighting style with Gonzalez in the succeeding sparring session.
“For now, we have not yet found a sparring partner for Jeo. Jerwin is a southpaw but he knows how to fight orthodox,” said Domingo. “If there won’t be any sparring partners available, coach Joven (Jimenez) said that Jerwin is willing to help.”
Ancajas has long been a regular trainee at the Wild Card Boxing Club. He also sparred with Jonas Sultan in his preparations for his great upset win over the then undefeated Carlos Caraballo of Puerto Rico. Sultan was Santisima's former teammate at the now closed ALA Gym.
Ancajas is currently preparing for his 10th title defense against undefeated Argentinean challenger Fernando Martinez also on February 5 in the United States.
Santisima is grateful for the high caliber sparring with a world titlist like Ancajas. "His experience as a world champion is very different. It’s such a huge help,” he said.
After he lost to Navarrete in his first U.S. fight, Santisima grabbed successive stoppage victories over Marjon Piencenaves Las Nieves, Agusan del Norte by KO2 and Allan Alberca of Sindangan, Zamboanga del Norte by TKO1.
Santisima is 21-3 with 18 KOs, while Gonzalez is 24-2 with 14 KOs and a former WBO inter-continental featherweight champion.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Weights From ProBoxTV’s ‘Vazquez vs. Machuca’ at College Park Center in the University of Texas
Fri, 27 Feb 2026Ethan Matthew Gabriel tops Boscolympics 2026 Grade School chess meet
Fri, 27 Feb 2026Boxing Legend & Hall of Famer Roy Jones Jr. Confirmed for Ninth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Cinco De Mayo Weekend, Saturday May 2, in Las Vegas
Fri, 27 Feb 2026IM Christian Gian Karlo Tade - Arca outwits GM Pa Iniyan in Round 6 of the Manny Pacquiao International Open chess
By Marlon Bernardino, Thu, 26 Feb 2026San Francisco Boxing Leaders Bring It Back: FIGHT NIGHT AT ROCCAPULCO
Thu, 26 Feb 2026Alyssa Mendoza, Salim Ellis-Bey and Kelvin Watts Secure Wins on Day Three of 2026 Strandja Boxing Tournament
Thu, 26 Feb 2026Herlan Gomez faces Dekang Wang for WBA Asia Superbamtam Title Today in Kunming, China
By Carlos Costa, Thu, 26 Feb 2026Queensberry Promotions to sue SELA and TKO?
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Thu, 26 Feb 2026IBA President Umar Kremlev promises prize money for boxers at LA 2028 if the IOC doesn’t change their policy towards athletes’ rewards
Thu, 26 Feb 2026Ruben Castillo, The uncrowned champion passes away
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Thu, 26 Feb 2026Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimán: The Return of Ryan Garcia
By Mauricio Sulaimán, Wed, 25 Feb 2026“It’s moments a kid dreams off.” Sam Rennie returns for title challenge March 13 in Perth – Thunderdome 53
Wed, 25 Feb 2026‘It’s going to be a great fight and most importantly looking forward to the 10 pints together after it’ Billy Quinncroft challenges for Cruiserweight title March 13 in Perth – Thunderdome 53
Wed, 25 Feb 2026Magdalena Contreras Municipality and WBC start "Boxing for Peace" in Mexico
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Wed, 25 Feb 2026United States Captures Four More Wins on Day Two of Strandja 2026 Boxing Tournament
Wed, 25 Feb 2026