In a spectacular main event, San Diego’s powerhouse Giovani “Gallo de Oro” Santillan (32-0, 17 KOs) continued his winning streak, effortlessly grabbing the NABO Welterweight Title from Alexis “Lex” Rocha of Santa Ana (23-2, 15 KOs). Santillan handed Rocha a humbling defeat via knockout. Rocha seemed out of his depth, being knocked to the canvas twice in just the fifth round. The definitive moment arrived in the sixth when Santillan, with surgical precision, unleashed a series of right hooks and left uppercuts, putting an end to Rocha’s feeble attempts at 1:13. This exciting bout left many questioning Rocha’s preparation.
Beaming with confidence, Giovani Santillan said, “I’m ecstatic. I knew this would be the outcome. With opponents like Rocha, you can sometimes predict the end.” He added, showing a hint of sympathy for Rocha, “He’s a decent fighter, but perhaps not ready for this level. Getting up twice after those knockdowns? Must’ve been a first for him. The vibe changes when you’re not the fan favorite. It’s these very fans and supporters that make boxing such a thrill. With this victory, 2024 is looking promising for me.”
A deflated Alexis Rocha responded, “Apologies to anyone who believed in me. I’ll try to bounce back.”
The event was star-studded with luminaries like Golden Boy Promotions’ Chairman and CEO Oscar De La Hoya, Golden Boy Partner Bernard Hopkins, Hall of Fame Trainer Freddie Roach, and many past and present Golden Boy fighters.
In another highlight, John “Scrappy” Ramirez (13-0, 9 KOs) emerged victorious in the fourth round of a WBA Super Flyweight Title Eliminator against Ronal Batista (15-4, 9 KOs). The animated Ramirez even handed out popcorn to his fans, marking a memorable part of the night. Batista, clearly overpowered, succumbed in the fourth round, with Ramirez wrapping things up with a devastating left hook.
The upbeat Scrappy Ramirez said, “I paced myself with him. Then thought it best to put him out of his misery. It’s all about staying sharp.”
DAZN also featured a flyweight bout that went the distance. Ricardo “El Niño” Sandoval of Rialto (23-2, 16 KOs) narrowly outperformed Victor Sandoval (37-4, 23 KOs), showcasing his superior skill set. The judges seemed to agree, with scores reading 97-93, 97-93, and 96-94.
In another significant fight, Gabriela Fundora from the Coachella Valley (12-0, 5 KOs) remained undefeated, clinching the IBF Flyweight Title. She squared off against Arely “Ametralladora” Muciño (32-4-2, 11 KOs) from Monterrey, Mexico, displaying her dominance and knocking Muciño down twice in the fifth.
The event kicked off with Joeshon James (8-0-2, 5 KOs) of Sacramento, California, pulling a stunning upset with a first-round knockout win against David “Dynamite” Stevens (13-1, 9 KOs). Stevens, looking clueless, was floored twice before the referee called it.
Lastly, the decorated champion from San Fernando, Iyana “Roxy” Verduzco (1-0) marked her professional debut with a resounding win in a high-energy lightweight bout against Clarice Morales (0-3-1) of Toledo, Ohio. Verduzco took control from the onset, proving her mettle in the boxing world.
