What a night it was when San Diego’s shining star Giovani “Gallo de Oro” Santillan (32-0, 17 KOs) kept his record spotless, snatching the NABO Welterweight Title right from under Alexis “Lex” Rocha’s nose (23-2, 15 KOs). The fight, which went for 12 rounds, saw Santillan not just defeating but demolishing Rocha, marking his first career loss via a brutal knockout. Santillan sent Rocha sprawling to the canvas twice in the fifth round alone! And the finishing blow? A savage mix of right hooks and left uppercuts in the sixth that concluded the fight at 1:13, leaving Rocha’s reputation in tatters. The noise around this thrilling event, associated with Top Rank, filled the Kia Forum and was broadcast for the world to see on DAZN.
A jubilant Santillan shared, “I’m ecstatic. We aimed for this, and boy, did we achieve it. Fights can be unpredictable,” he acknowledged, but then threw shade, “but Alexis, he just couldn’t hold up. He’s a known fighter, sure, but tough? Questionable. He struggled to his feet twice, and let’s not forget, he’s never been knocked out before! His fans, their noise – it’s all part of what makes boxing entertaining. But tonight, he just couldn’t make the cut. 2024 is looking like a dream year for me after this.”
A downcast Rocha could only offer, “My fans, I’ve let you down. But I’m not out.”
In the co-feature, John “Scrappy” Ramirez (13-0, 9 KOs) wowed the crowds with a fourth-round knockout against Ronal Batista (15-4, 9 KOs) in a WBA Super Flyweight Title Eliminator. Ramirez wasn’t just fighting; he was performing, celebrating with popcorn for his fans after sending Batista down with a crippling left hook.
A cheeky Ramirez quipped, “I was playing with him, biding my time. But patience has its limits, and I decided to wrap up the show.”
Also, on the DAZN slate, a 10-round flyweight battle that went all the way saw Rialto’s Ricardo “El Niño” Sandoval (23-2, 16 KOs) clinch a nail-biting, unanimous decision over Victor Sandoval (37-4, 23 KOs). Despite the relentless exchange of blows, “El Niño” emerged the more formidable, or should we say, less exhausted of the two.
The night also witnessed Gabriela Fundora (12-0, 5 KOs) from Coachella Valley maintaining her undefeated streak, snatching the IBF Flyweight Title from Arely “Ametralladora” Muciño (32-4-2, 11 KOs). Fundora, with her superior strategy, sent Muciño crashing twice in the fifth round, leading to Muciño’s corner frantically waving the white flag.
Kicking off the broadcast was Joeshon James (8-0-2, 5 KOs), who delivered a shocking first-round knockout to David “Dynamite” Stevens (13-1, 9 KOs), shaking the arena and certainly Stevens’ confidence.
The opening fight set the stage ablaze as national champ Iyana “Roxy” Verduzco (1-0) debuted like a pro, commanding the ring against Clarice Morales (0-3-1). Verduzco took the reins from the first bell, ensuring everyone remembered her name.
In the aftermath, while winners bask in their glory, questions surround Rocha’s future. His performance wasn’t just underwhelming; it was a catastrophe, a far cry from the fighter people thought they knew. Is this the end of his high-flying days, or will he manage to pick up the pieces of his shattered career?