By Miguel Maravilla at ringside
In a huge upset, undefeated Giovani “Gallo de Oro” Santillan (32-0, 17 KOs) knocked out WBO #1 welterweight Alexis “Lex” Rocha (23-2, 15 KOs) in round six on Saturday night at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, California. Santillan put a beat down on Rocha. Rocha’s nose was pouring blood early. Santillan dropped Rocha twice in round five and finished him with another knockdown in round six.
Going straight at it and fighting on the inside, Rocha and Santillan went right at it a phonebooth fight. Santillan staggered Rocha to begin the second round. Pressing to begin the third, Santillan pumped the jab as Rocha’s nose appeared to be busted gushing blood, but that did not stop the Santa Ana fighter’s momentum. The fourth round began with Santillan landing a chopping left, the San Diego fighter continued and connected with a sharp combination as Rocha appeared very sluggish and on the receiving end of Santillan’s offensive.
Santillan dropped Rocha to begin the fifth. The bloodied Rocha got up and continued showing grit. Rocha was droped again was saved by the bell. Santillan finished off Rocha in the sixth, knocking him down for a third time as referee Ray Corona waved it off at 1:13.
In the co-feature bout, Los Angeles’s John “Scrappy” Ramirez (13-0, 9 KOs) scored a fourth-round knockout over Ronal Batista (15-4, 9 KOs) of Panama in a WBA super flyweight title eliminator. It was a slow start for Ramirez as he took his time stalking and measured Batista early in the fight. Things began to sizzle as Ramirez connected and cornered Batista in the third landing with hooks and chopping rights flush on the chin to finish the round. A crunching left hook to the body by Scrappy dropped Batista in the fourth, then Ramirez finished him off with a vicious right knocking down Batista for a second time as referee Jack Reiss stopped the fight at 2:33.
Gabriela Fundora (12-0, 5 KOs) of Coachella, California won the IBF flyweight champion by knocking out Arely “Ametralladora” Muciño (32-4-2, 11 KOs) of Monterrey, Mexico in the fifth. Mucino attacked Fundora at the opening bell, taking swings at the much taller opponent as Fundora adjusted to strike with a solid straight, later to close the round Fundora staggered Mucino to the corner as she was saved by the bell from the attack. Continuing where they left off, Mucino charged as Fundora countered and connected with straight shots. Mucino was dropped to begin the fifth and continued to fight, referee Jack Reiss gave Mucino a standing eight count but she couldn’t continue and Reiss stopped the fight at 1:18 of the fifth.
It was the Sandoval Battle as Rialto, California’s Ricardo “El Niño” Sandoval (23-2, 16 KOs) and Victor Sandoval (37-4, 23 KOs) of Tijuana, Mexico squared off and went the distance in a ten round flyweight bout. It was a fast-paced opening round as both Sandoval’s took it to each other. Victor worked on the inside and dug to the body in the second as Ricardo threw straight punches. Mixing it up in the third, the Sandoval’s fought inside, later in the round it was Ricardo stalking and backing Victor. Displaying a burst in the fourth, Victor Sandoval stood busy and boxed as Ricardo Sandoval chased in the round. Continuing to box and stay busy in the fifth, Victor outworked Ricardo displaying craftiness boxing smoothly. Victor Sandoval connected Ricardo with a hard right hand in the sixth as he backed up and stopped Ricardo Sandoval’s momentum. Staying busy in the seventh, Ricardo and Victor kept battling on. In the eighth, Victor Sandoval stood busy as Ricardo Sandoval kept coming and mixed it up. Continuing to trade away late in the ninth neither stopped punching as the fight appeared to be up for grabs. The tenth and final round, neither fighter shied away as Ricardo stalked and pressed, Victor boxed and countered as they battled it out in going the distance ten rounds. Upon completing ten rounds, the judges scored the bout 97-93, 97-93, and 96-94 as Ricardo Sandoval pulls off the unanimous decision.
Super middleweight Joeshon James (8-0-2, 5 KOs) of Sacramento, California disposed of David “Dynamite” Stevens (13-1, 9 KOs) quickly in one round in opening up the DAZN livestream. A chopping right by James staggered Stevens as James followed up with a left hook dropping Stevens. James sent Stevens to the canvas a second time and finished him with a chopping right as referee Jerry Cantu stepped in to stop the fight at 2:52 of the first.
In the opening bout from the Forum, making her professional debut, San Fernando Valley’s Iyana “Roxy” Verduzco (1-0) won a hard fought unanimous decision over Clarice Morales (0-3-1) of Toledo, Ohio. Fighting from the southpaw stance, Verduzco was aggressive early in the opening round as she fended off Morales. Working off the jab in round two, Verduzco was consistent in applying and keeping Morales at a distance. Continuing to put in the work, Verduzco stood busy as Morales stood in the pocket exchanging. The fourth and final round saw both ladies sensing the urgency pressing. After completing four rounds, the judges scored the bout 40-36, 39-37, and 39-37.
I was wrong about this one, Gabriela beat the breaks of that girl. That she makes 108 at 5’9 is just nuts!
Bro, I think it has to do with the genes. Gabriela and her brother are freaks of nature. I can picture their mom trying to break fights between them growing up. Great job by Fundors. I think she’ll be making some noise for a few fights and hopefully, get some life changing checks.
You and me both USS. Wow! Fundora – Esparza for undisputed champion next year.
Damn was I WRONG with my prediction!! I thought Mucino’s experience was going to be too much to overcome and given the fact that Fondura didn’t look all that good in her last couple of fights. Would absolutely love to see her beat the brakes off of Esparza!!!!
“Would absolutely love to see her beat the brakes off of Esparza”, DAMN! No one likes that girl…..
I agree with you, BoriMex.
Esparza got a medal at the Olympics, you would think she would be more popular. Also judging by the thumbs down on the comments for Gabriela she is not a fan favorite either. I’m not sure what the hate is all about.
I understand that Esparza should be judged as a fighter, however her personality and arrogance makes it hard to root for her! I was so glad to see Estrada beat her after all the smack she talked! I’ll tell you this; she’s better than people think, but not as great as she thinks she is! Esparza that is!!!!!
Ok got it. I never followed her so I wasn’t familiar.
I agree. She had an interview on here maybe a year ago or so and didn’t come off as a very nice person, but she’s an excellent fighter and her accomplishments show it. I think she has to fight Alaniz again because the WBO ordered it and then she can fight Fundora.
Great win for a wonderful young family … not only are Gabby and her brother Sebastian very good boxers but wonderful people as well … very smart and respectful … the Dad is the LEADER in every way … Wishing continued success …
Rocha just didn’t have the power to keep Santillan honest. Good performance from Santillan, defenitly want to see him again.
That was a marauding, non-stop performance from Santillan.
Santillan has been stinking out Top Rank undercards lately. He has never looked like the exciting warrior fighting tonight. What the hell happened to him? Maybe Robert Garcia woke him up.
Packy…Don’t know what happened but that display of ferocity…was something from within… something personal….that was some old vintage, gutter., Roberto Duran…Jack Dempsey type nastiness…
Promoters need to get more recognition for adding excitement to their fighters. Great boxing insight.
That was very entertaining…..Santillan just snatched Rocha’s heart…..that was a beat down….not focusing on the skill of both fighters….which was obviously there….That was a display of a fighter on a mission..,..Crazy thing is ….Rocha can fight…. Santillan….”The Heart Snatcher”…wow..,Don’t know about his future…but he displayed untamed ferocity tonight…five hooks in a row…just damn..
Rocha walked into the ring like the result was a foregone conclusion. When I see that kind of arrogance from a fighter, I think “just once I want to see this asshole really blasted out.” Oh, mama, baby, did I score tonight!
Was Rocha overhyped or has Santillian finally come into his own and is really that good! Either way, what a performance!!!
The exagerated ring walk by Rocha, making Santillan and everyone wait was over the top…. but it was the kind of fight we don’t see much of anymore… no 50 air jabs or posing and holding all night long… a great performance by Santillan and a great fight for boxing fans. More of this please.
Great take
..Old School….vintage stuff.,
Rocha definitely overhyped because Golden Boy has better publicity than Top Rank.
Sometimes it’s not a good idea to fight your sparring partners, especially if they feel like they took it easy on you during training
And DLH wanted Rocha to fight Crawford. Lmao
Styles make fights. I think Rocha would still have steamrolled Crawford probably stopped him in 9 or 10 rounds.
@Frankly Geniro, your sarcasm is noted! “Steamrolled Crawford; probably stopped him in 9 or 10 rounds.” I know that it’s hypothetical and your opinion, but this is the dumbest boxing comment I’ve read today . ODLH ain’t letting Rocha anywhere near Crawford unless it’s to cash him out. Just say you don’t like Crawford. Cool! You don’t have to be an idiot saying it!!!
Ha! Funny. I’m glad to see someone is having fun . Steamrolled for 9 or 10 rounds is excessivev and inhumane. How about he steamrolles him in 1 or 2 rounds, just trying to help my man.
@Pete, they would have to charge Oscar with accessory to Rocha’s murder!
Rocha poops his pants after that ringwalk…hilarious…BOXING rules !
Tonight was replete with upsets. Congratulations to the B side fighters who showed what they were made of.
Way to go kid!
i have never understand the Rocha incensing anyway and here we go. Santillan is like a brickhouse if you decide to fight him in the phonebooth.Bad choise..
Oh my goodness, we’re going to need to get you to retake the sixth grade. You have literacy problems.
I think Rocha underestimates santillan
And santillan came to the ring at 100% preparation
Physical condition and cardio are the same or more important than boxing skills
Again… I like the best Mexican ever Ricardo lopez says:
“””if Im gonna fight with a great known boxer I run 5 miles …if I’m gona fight against unknown boxer I run 10 miles”””
Scrappy Ramirez is a dollar store Hector Camacho. 1/40th of the talent and abilities. Still, a good fighter to watch.
Ha! So funny.
James… Scrappy is legit…watch how he stays in the pocket ..slipping punches within inches…countering with his own shots…fighter has significant upside….will only get better….looked good…well place body shots..good punch selection…good timing…defense Scrappy can fight…and if focused will only get better…
Joeshon James was the underdog in his last 3 fights, and pulled off the upset in all 3 matches. 2 draws & 1 first round knockout. Rising star for sure.
Arely Mucino is the hottest most beautiful multi time world champion I have ever seen fight. Arely is a beauty queen and the most beautful woman in boxing even though Mexico has a lot of very beautiful stunning female boxers like La Bonita Fernandez, Yessica Kika Chavez and Yamileth Mercado among others. I think Arely Mucino could be a World champion again if she had a better trainer like Robert Garcia. Gabriela Fundora had a better trainer and Mucino is one of the Miguel Cotto fighters. The problem with Miguel Cotto fighters is none of them have his style and none of them can box like him so none of them are as good as Miguel Cotto was. Mucinos husband is former world champion Angel Tito Acosta who seemed like promising world champ but never developed into the Miguel Cotto type fighter that his promoter and the TV networks hoped he would have become. Both Acosta and Mucino have had great careers just not at the level that Miguel Cotto had. I think Mucino could get there if she had a trainer like Robert Garcia. Look at the improvements Santillan, Maidana and even Anthony Joshua had when they trained with Robert at RGBA. A good trainer can make the difference between a good solid modern world champion and all time great hall of fame world champion. It’s a thin line that separates the very good from the great. The very good lose their biggest by split decision but the greats get a come from behind knock out victory like Chavez with Taylor. The very good get knocked out on a off night while the greats somehow survive and get a come from behind knock out like Marquez did with Pacquiao. A good trainer makes all the difference in the world.
That’s the best I’ve ever seen Santillan. He struggled against lesser fighters but was swinging freely against Rocha and landing accurate, powerful shots at will. In fact, he actually looked like the bigger fighter in the ring although Rocha was supposed to be the bigger man.
If Santillan fights with that urgency and attitude in the future, he’ll be a hard man to beat. It’s just that I’ve seen some uninspired performances from him in the past so this was really unexpected. Rocha just looked overwhelmed and overpowered. Great victory for Santillan. On to bigger and better fights for him.