Alfredo Santiago (proper) lands proper hook on Angel Fierro in a ten-round win on June 15 in Manatí, Puerto Rico.
Dominican-born Alfredo Santiago was way back embraced by the passionate boxing public in Puerto Rico.
He formally grew to become an honorary Boricua after his newest efficiency.
The previous title challenger delivered a masterclass efficiency in an upset factors victory over Angel Fierro. Scores have been 99-91, 98-92 and 98-92 for Santiago of their DAZN-aired 140-pound bout Saturday at Coliseo Juan Aubin Cruz Abreu in Manatí, Puerto Rico.
Santiago expertly put his top and attain benefits to good use versus Tijuana’s Fierro, who moved up from light-weight. The 5’11” junior welterweight—who lives in Fajardo—steadily switched from southpaw to standard and boxed nicely from each stances.
Fierro was in a position to shut the hole in spherical two and make a combat out of it. Santiago was ready and stood his floor.
It proved to be Fierro’s undoing, as he by no means had a response for Santiago’s stick-and-move model. He barely had a response when Santiago initiated exchanges all through the primary half of the combat.
Fierro loved success on the within in rounds six and 7. Santiago slowed down only a contact and infrequently turned to the referee for assist when he felt Fierro landed low.
The ninth produced a Spherical of the Yr contender. Weirdly, it started with a rabbit punch as Santiago was given time to get better.
Fierro went on the assault like a person possessed as soon as motion resumed and steadily landed clear energy pictures upstairs. Santiago rallied halfway by the spherical with rapid-fire combos. Fierro let his arms go within the ultimate minute because the capability crowd rose to its ft.
Santiago left nothing to probability within the tenth and ultimate spherical, the place he repeatedly beat Fierro to the punch. Fierro’s mobility was hampered however unbothered by it as he waved his arms and performed to the gang. Santiago was pleased to oblige and slammed residence combos to Fierro’s chin.
Fierro was congratulatory of Santiago, although barely in a position to stand after the combat. He favored his proper calf and ankle as he hobbled on one leg in a nook.
All advised, it was a forgetful foray into junior welterweight as Fierro fell to 22-2-2 (17 knockouts. The loss snapped a seven-fight unbeaten streak.
Santiago (15-2, 6 KOs) earned his second straight upset win and by far the very best victory of his nine-year profession. He hadn’t fought since a June 2022 first-round knockout of Philadelphia’s Karl Dargan. Saturday was simply his third bout since a Nov. 2019 defeat to then-unbeaten WBC light-weight titlist Devin Haney in Los Angeles.
Haney went on to completely unify the division earlier than he moved as much as 140. Santiago’s profession by no means progressed till Saturday, although that night time taught him a worthwhile lesson.
“I took that combat on two weeks’ discover,” Santiago advised DAZN’s Chris Mannix, as translated by Ciaran Simpson. “I discovered that night time to by no means put myself able [to fail].”
Additionally on the undercard, Stephanie Pineiro outpointed Diana Tapia (7-2, 2 KOs) in a spirited, if one-sided, ten-round welterweight battle. Scores have been 100-90, 99-91 and 99-91 for Pineiro (7-0, 2 KOs), a 33-year-young Boricua from Bayamon.
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