Giovani Santillan keeps climbing the ranks, next up Luis Solis

Next up on his plate is a meeting with Luis “Muecas” Solis (r) a native of Yucatan, Mexico at the DoubleTree Hotel on October 24, 2014.

Undefeated junior welterweight, 22 year Giovani Santillan (14-0, 8 KOs) from San Diego will be making the first title defense of his young career when he meets 22 year-old Luis “Muecas” Solis (15-4-4, 12 KOs) in an 8-round main event on the latest Thompson Boxing Promotions Show, “New Blood” – Friday, October 24, at the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario, CA.

You might recall, back on August 16th in front of the home folk, Santillan captured the vacant NABF Jr. Light Welterweight Title after defeating Osenohan Vazquez (7-1-1, 2 KOs) at the Harley Davidson Store on Morena Boulevard in San Diego.

Santillan (r) would block a punch, slip a punch, then land one all over. From the uppercut to the straight right, this was the “Gio plan” of destroying his opponent.

After his win over Osenohan Vazquez, Giovani Santillan, with raised fist, saluted his family, mates from the boxing world, loyal backers and fans. Photo: J. Wyatt

Both fighter and manger Mr. Bob Calhoun gave a pump fist to the cheering crowd. Photo: J. Wyatt

The roadmap is clear, all he has to do is work hard at it. If it was only that easy. However, Giovani has benefitted big time from a support staff that’s been second to none. From his father Guillermo Santillan to Coach Joe Vargas, and now with ex-champ Danny “Dynamite” Perez, each has been instrumental in Gio’s progress.

Giovani Santillan with his father Guillermo “Memo” Santillan.

Santillan, a heavy handed southpaw with  a solid chin, stated he’s been doing his due diligence in scouting his next opponent. First of all, he knows Solis of Progreso, Yucatán, Mexico, prefers to use his height and length to keep opponents from getting in close.

“I’ve seen his last two fights,” said the 22-year-old Santillan, “he’s a fighter that likes to stay busy. We expect him to throw a lot of punches. The most important thing we need to do is cut the distance and work him inside where he’s vulnerable. There will be opportunities to fight him on the outside, and when that happens, I’ll be smart with my punches.”

This will be Santillan’s fourth bout of the year after fighting five times in 2013. The part-time youth boxing instructor credits his year-round training regimen for keeping him in shape and ready to take fights on short notice.

“It helps that I’m a gym rat and I’m always basically in fighting shape,” said the mild mannered Santillan. “I’ve never been knocked down or suffered any cuts. I don’t see Solis changing that. I’m going to fight smart and be effective with my punches and defense.”

Solis, an orthodox fighter, has had some rough sailing of late. In his last eleven fights, five of his opponents had a winning record and in those matches he went 0-4-1. Against the fighters with a losing record, he prevailed 5-0-1.

In the 8-round co-main event, they have free-swinging, super bantamweight Juan Reyes (11-1-3, 1 KO) of Riverside, CA going up against the undefeated Fernando Samaniego (6-0-1, 3 KOs) of Phoenix, Arizona in a battle for the vacant NABF Super Bantamweight (122 lbs.) Championship.

After winning five straight, the 25 year-old Reyes now finds himself in a bit of a funk, having scored two wins and two draws in his last four outings. However, look at the gentlemen he has faced. The two draws were against formidable foes Isaac Zarate (7-1) and Jonathan Arrelllano (13-2-1) while the wins came over Danny Roman (8-1-1) and Victor Capaceta (4-6-3).

“I need to come out and win the early rounds,” said the 25 year-old Reyes. “I’ll be more active than usual to make sure I can steal the bulk of the rounds in the first half of the fight.”

Juan Reyes (l) goes up against the undefeated Fernando Samaniego.

In another 8-round super bantamweight contest, it will be Isaac Zarate (8-1-1, 1 KO) of Los Angeles, one of the two fellows who fought Reyes to a draw, taking on Heriberto Delgado (11-1, 6 KOs) of Tijuana, B. C., Mexico. Zarate is coming off a first round TKO victory over Guadalupe Barrera in August, when TBP said: “His pin-point body shots knocked Barrera down three times before the referee finally put a stop to that one-sided affair.”

“I’ve been working on my body punching and it paid off against Barrera,” said Zarate. “I’m trying to become a more well-rounded boxer. Improving my inside game was something I needed to work on.”

Isaac Zarate (r) of Los Angeles will be facing Heriberto Delgado (l) of Tijuana.

Additional heavy-hitters on the undercard

Jonathan Garcia (15-0, 11 KOs) of Watsonville, CA, one of the top prospects in the junior welterweight division, will fight six rounds versus an opponent to be named later.

Heard tell, Jonathan Garcia is willing to take on all comers.

Junior bantamweights Javier Lapizco (6-0, 2 KOs) of Sonora, Mex., and Jose Toribio (5-1, 1 KO) of San Diego/Tijuana will exchange leather in a 4-round bout.

Junior bantamweights Jose Toribio (left) and Javier Lapizco (right).

Opening the show will be a super bantamweight 4-rounder featuring Edwin “Hitman” Sandoval (2-0, 1 KO) of Bakersfield, CA and another local favorite Fernando Fuentes (4-3) of Hemet, CA. On May 30th at the Crowne Plaza in San Diego, Fuentes pulled off a major upset when he handed Christian Bojorquez of San Diego/Tijuana (11-0) his first loss. Then, in August, as if tempting fate, Fuentes once again challenged a bigger man, Juan Funez of Reseda, CA (5-0-1). This featherweight was not only taller, heavier and more experienced, he was a clever southpaw.

Fuentes next opponent, Sandoval, has had a brilliant Amateur career, then went on to compete in that now defunct World Series of Boxing for the LA Matadors in 2011-2012. If Fuentes can get passed him, this would certainly be a second feather in his cap. The play on words using “feather”? Sandoval has been fighting as a featherweight. The shorter Fuentes should stay grounded as a Super Bantamweight.

Edwin Sandoval (r) and Fernando Fuentes (l).

Tickets for this show, priced at $40, $60 and $100, are now on sale and can be purchased by calling (714) 935-0900 or online at ThompsonBoxing.com.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m, and the first bell rings at 7:45 p.m.The Doubletree Hotel is located at 222 North Vineyard Ave, Ontario, CA 91764 and can be reached at (909) 937-0900.