SANTILLAN KO'S HIDAKA TO REGAIN OPBF CROWN
By Salven L. Lagumbay
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 04 Dec 2005
Iloilo-born fighter Rev "Gentle Giant" Santillan, determined to bring back the Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation welter crown, yesterday did just that after he knocked out Japanese Kazuhiko Hidaka in the eighth round of their scheduled 12-round bout at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan.
It was a sweet redemption for the southpaw Santillan, who was dethroned by the same Hidaka last March 19 during their first encounter in the same venue.
It was a very close encounter right at the opening bell, as both fighters fought to a frenetic pace, often giving and receiving punches that caused both of them to get groggy at several points of what turned out to be a war.
"Sus, grabeha nga away oy. Sumbagay jud! Pirting nindota awaya. Groggy silang duha, pero si Santillan jud ang nidaog," (What a fight. It was a rumble. Very great fight. They were both groggy, but Santillan won in the end), said an ecstatic Rex "Wakee" Salud, in a long-distance interview with this writer.
The fight was so close, even Filipino judge Alex Vidal had the WBC no. 10 Hidaka ahead by one point after seven rounds.
"I had a very tough fight tonight. Hidaka is a real warrior. But I was confident because I had a great training and conditioning for this fight," Santillan, who now improves to 22 wins, 2 losses, 1 draw, with 16 KO's, told this writer yesterday.
The win also virtually assures Santillan of getting back his top 10 rankings in the WBC's welter class, which he lost following the debacle to Hidaka early this year.
END
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