Giovani Santillan Rolls Forward With Decision Over Tienda
By Francisco Salazar
ONTARIO - Unbeaten junior welterweight Giovani Santillan is beginning to turn heads based on the results he is getting inside the ring.
Friday night was no exception.
Santillan was able to grind out a hard-fought eight round unanimous decision over Omar Tienda before a near-sellout crowd at the Doubletree Events Center in this Los Angeles suburb.
With the win, Santillan improves to 21-0, 11 KOs, while Tienda dropped to 18-4, 11 KOs.
Since signing on with Thompson Boxing Promotions, Santillan has improved his skill-set to earn decision victories and knockout wins over modest opposition.
It was a little different as he faced a fighter in Tienda, a fighter who was rugged and wanted to utilize every trick to get on the inside of Santillan's guard. Tienda did find some success doing so, landing right hands to the head and body.
But Santillan was effective in creating enough space between himself and Tienda to effectively counter to with right hooks and straight left hands.
As the bout progressed, Santillan won the rounds more clearly, leaving little no doubt towards the end of the fight which fighter would have their arm raised in victory.
All three judges scored the bout 80-72 in favor of Santillan, who resides in San Diego.
Junior lightweight prospect Erick Ituarte (16-1-1, 2 KOs) won an eight round unanimous decision over veteran Naciff Martinez. After Ituarte clearly won the opening rounds, the southpaw Martinez (17-10-2, 5 KOs) began pressing the fight by round four. He found some success walking Ituarte down, connecting with straight left hands to the head. Martinez's punch output dropped by round seven, allowing Ituarte to regain control of the action. The 80-72, 80-72, and 79-73 scorecards for Ituarte did not reflect the competitiveness of the fight.
Former amateur standout Ruben Villa IV (4-0, 2 KOs) scored a one-sided four round decision over Francisco Contreras. The southpaw Villa, who has two wins over Shakur Stevenson in the amateurs, was the busier and more-effecitve fighter, beating Contreras (2-7-1, 1 KO) to the punch during most of the fight. All three judges scored the bout 40-36 in favor of Villa.
Junior featherweight Rudy Garcia (5-0, 1 KO) won a four round unanimous decision over David Martino. It was a competitive bout featuring unbeaten junior lightweights, but the taller Garcia was more effective, countering the aggressive Martino (2-1, 2 KOs). All three judges scored the bout 40-36 in favor of Garcia.
Junior lightweight prospect Michael Dutchover (3-0, 3 KOs) scored a spectacular one-punch knockout of Jose Mora in round one. A counter left hook dropped Mora (0-3) flat onto his back, prompting referee Raul Caiz, Jr. to immediately stop the fight at 2:07.
In the opening bout of the Thompson Boxing Promotions card, junior welterweight Francisco Armenta (3-0) won a four round unanimous decision over Cody Peterson. Peterson (1-2) was game, but outclassed as Armenta repeatedly landed numerous punches to Peterson's head. All three judges scored the bout in favor of Armenta, 40-36, 40-36, and 39-37.
Francisco A. Salazar has written for Boxingscene.com since September of 2012 and has covered boxing in Southern California and abroad since 2000. Francisco also covers boxing for the Ventura County (Calif.) Star newspaper, RingTV, and Knockout Nation. He can be reached by email at santio89@yahoo.com or on Twitter at FSalazarBoxing
