WBO #1 rated welterweight Giovani “Gallo De Oro” Santillan (32-0, 17 KOs) will take on fellow unbeaten Brian Norman Jr. (25-0, 19 KOs) in a 12-round ESPN-televised showdown on May 18 at Pechanga Arena. Santillan-Norman will be the co-feature to the vacant WBO lightweight title tilt between Mexican three-division world champion Emanuel “Vaquero” Navarrete and Ukraine’s Denys Berinchyk.
In the eight-round televised opener, heavyweight knockout artist Richard Torrez Jr. (9-0, 9 KOs) returns against an opponent to be named. Torrez scored a KO1 last Friday on the Oscar Valdez-Liam Wilson card.
Undercard action on ESPN+ features lightweight phenom Emiliano Fernando Vargas (9-0, 7 KOs) vs. TBA will see action in a six-rounder, lightweight Alan “Kid Kansas” Garcia (12-0, 10 KOs) vs. TBA in an eight-rounder, and Robert Garcia-trained junior welterweight Art Barrera Jr. (4-0, 4 KOs) vs. TBA in a four-rounder.
Also, lightweight prospect Charlie Sheehy (9-0, 5 KOs) takes on Manuel Jaimes (15-1-1, 11 KOs) in an eight-rounder, junior lightweight Jonathan Lopez (14-0, 10 KOs) faces Edgar Ortega (14-2-2, 7 KOs) in an eight-rounder, and lightweight Jonny Mansour will make his highly anticipated pro debut in a four-rounder.
Can they move Kiki any slower, fighting 40yos doesn’t exactly show us much
Yesssssss baby that’s what I want the best vs the best
Now I will see what Santillán is made of
Ajuaaaaaaaaaaaaa
Yes, this is what I want the best vs the best. Now I’m gonna know what Santillán is made of.
Gio needs to push for that title shot if he wins this or he’s gonna age out of the sport.