Rev Santillan Wins Big in Japan, Wants Title Shot

By Rey Danseco
 
FORMER champion Rev Santillan is now looking towards another title shot.

The 29-year-old native of Iloilo province in central Philippines scored a unanimous decision over Japanese welterweight Shana Kisaragi in a 10-round fight in bout held over the welterweight limit Monday night at Archaic Hall in Amagasaki, Hyogo, Japan.

The 5-foot-11 southpaw controlled the fight throughout and earned the judges nod with 98-93, 97-93 and 96-94 tallies.

Santillan improved to 23 wins (16 knockouts) against three loses and a draw.

It was Santillan’s first win in as many fights after losing his crack to regain the Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation welterweight title against current champion Hiroshi Yamaguchi when he dropped a split decision in April 2006 in Tokyo.

Santillan held the OPBF 147-pound throne twice, from January 2001 until October 2002 and from April 2004 until March 2005.

Santillan wants a rematch against Yamaguchi later this year.

The Filipino fighter weighed 150 pounds while Kisaragi was 147 3/4 in the official weigh-in prior to the non-title bout.