Angelo 'Cuban Cobra' Santana..

No question the guy has natural gifts and yes athletes from all Latin American countries have been known to fudge around their docs but regardless of sport it's always advantageous to state your 5-10 years younger than your actual age. Cuban boxers due to their incredible amateur programs come out More polished than most but he doesn't even look like he's in his 20s. I know I'm speculating but his purported age doesn't pass the eyeball test. That's all I'm saying...between looks and his skills... I'm not buying 25. Just me though. lol Maybe you're right. Santana looks a little rough, but he has been taking shots to the face for a long time, after all. :lol1: For what it's worth, he looks in his twenties to me. And this is coming from a guy that felt damn old when they said Garcia was 30. He looked like a baby to me. lmao

No question the guy has natural gifts and yes athletes from all Latin American countries have been known to fudge around their docs but regardless of sport it's always advantageous to state your 5-10 years younger than your actual age. Cuban boxers due to their incredible amateur programs come out More polished than most but he doesn't even look like he's in his 20s. I know I'm speculating but his purported age doesn't pass the eyeball test. That's all I'm saying...between looks and his skills... I'm not buying 25. Just me though.

He's like 24. Haven't seen you in a while, meng. You obviously watched the fight last night and was itching to see what was being said on the forum. :lol1: Angelo looked good, didn't he?

Showtime said he's 25. No way in hell is that dude 25. He's gotta be 30+. He came over on a makeshift raft and got refugee status. I'm thinking he lied about his age knowing full well he was going to turn pro ASAP. Cuban baseball players do it all the time to sign more lucrative contacts. La Cobra is too polished to be 25. He's for real. Santana is 24; he turns 25 in April. Baseball players from Latin countries (not just Cubans) lie about their age all the time, but it makes more sense for them to do so in that sport. They can sign lucrative long-term contracts that rely, in part, on their projected longevity. Boxers, on the other hand, don't benefit the same way from downplaying their ages. The contract structures and expectations are different. Angelo was twice Cuban national champion. That alone speaks favorably for his experience and skills. If Santana looks polished, it's due to that and his natural talent. You can't teach a lot of what "La Cobra" had on display last night.

He's still at the prospect stage in his career. I love what I saw last night. He's defensively sound, has power in both hands, has good timing, gives you a lot of movement and he can put together combinations. Very fundamentally sound fighter. But let's not crown him just yet. He's a prospect and should be moved along gradually. It's a lot easier to see when someone isn't going to make it than to accurately predict when someone will. I agree, Angelo is a long way off being crowned. But what we're all seeing is enough to get excited about. Santana has the tools. If he doesn't become a star, it won't be because he didn't have the potential.

His combinations are a bit awkward but heavy, reminds me of the late Valero(RIP) and young Paquiao. Looking to see more of Santana fights in the future. :boxing:

His punches are fast and crisp and he's got a lot of power but his workrate is very low. He can make some noise at 135 as long as he stays away from Abril.

He had some issues making weight vs his latest opponent at 135. No reason to stay at 135 imo. Will he make some noise at 140+ ? Your thoughts... he seems good, and his style is more exciting than most cubans, ill be following this kid, that ko was sick!

Showtime said he's 25. No way in hell is that dude 25. He's gotta be 30+. He came over on a makeshift raft and got refugee status. I'm thinking he lied about his age knowing full well he was going to turn pro ASAP. Cuban baseball players do it all the time to sign more lucrative contacts. La Cobra is too polished to be 25. He's for real.

How old is he again? I know he has only had something like 13 or 14 fights, but if he is young enough he could grow into a really good fighter. He has massive power in both hands and seemed to have good timing. Im exciting to watch him again. He's like 24.

How old is he again? I know he has only had something like 13 or 14 fights, but if he is young enough he could grow into a really good fighter. I think he needs to be a bit more active, and he also needs to get some experience fighting into the later rounds. He has massive power in both hands and seemed to have good timing though. Im exciting to watch him again.

He's still at the prospect stage in his career. I love what I saw last night. He's defensively sound, has power in both hands, has good timing, gives you a lot of movement and he can put together combinations. Very fundamentally sound fighter. But let's not crown him just yet. He's a prospect and should be moved along gradually.

Santana - Prescott I'd like to see :boxing:

Man..I will love to see him agains rios..but not against abril( no me gustaria ver cubanos en contra de cubanos..no cool..lol) but I understand that is to soon for him to go against elite competition..I just think that rios is a clown waiting to get murdered for a slick guy with good power ..I m impressed by this kid ( angelo) great power..very accurated..nice power combos..good inside and outside game..great defence..his check right hook is incredible fast and hard to take..that garcia dude just defeat Yordenis ugas..he was not the bum that santana made out of him...we need more young cubans like this one..I just want to see him fight again soon..viva cubaaaa..hahaha.. Brandon (Bam Bam) Rios is here at 135/140 :wave: PRPP:boxing:

Kid is a beast i wouldn't mind seeing him against Kim soon.

I'd like to see Angelo fight guys like Acosta and Litzau next. I don't want him touching the top-ten just yet, despite what Santana wants. Lundy and Molina can come soon after, depending on how Angelo looks. I don't ever want to see Santana versus Abril. :lol1: Litzau.... Funny you mention him, his first loss hits me like yesterday, was close to the apron on that one... No Abril... "might not be exciting enough" Miguel Acosta would be a good choice. Who else in the top ten? Ricky Burns?

Ok 135 it is... but vs who? Broner, DeMarco are probably out the question. Lundy, Molina, Kim... Abril? I'd like to see Angelo fight guys like Acosta and Litzau next. I don't want him touching the top-ten just yet, despite what Santana wants. Lundy and Molina can come soon after, depending on how Angelo looks. I don't ever want to see Santana versus Abril. :lol1:

Mike Alvarado? Now? I think that's reaching. Like I said, I'd like to see Angelo face increasingly challenging opposition. Alvarado is too much, too soon. Ok 135 it is... but vs who? Broner, DeMarco are probably out the question. Lundy, Molina, Kim... Abril?

140 is purely fantasy at this point I understand, but there are plenty names there to daydream about. I'm sure no one on here gives him a shot at any of the big names at jr. welter. BuuuT, How about Santana vs Alvarado? How would that fair? I might be reaching.. or not? Mike Alvarado? Now? I think that's reaching. Like I said, I'd like to see Angelo face increasingly challenging opposition. Alvarado is too much, too soon.

He still needs to make some noise at 135, IMO. lol I was pretty excited about Santana before tonight, now I'm just that much more hyped. This kid can go places. I'd rather he stay at lightweight for a while and make his mark. (Or at least until Gamboa gets there. lol) In any case, Angelo needs more experience against progressively better opponents. He needs to fight often; he's been too inactive. The article Boxingscene posted here earlier made it seem that Santana missed the weight because he was using an inaccurate analog scale. It's very possible that Angelo doesn't have real problems making weight. 140 is purely fantasy at this point I understand, but there are plenty names there to daydream about. I'm sure no one on here gives him a shot at any of the big names at jr. welter. BuuuT, How about Santana vs Alvarado? How would that fair? I might be reaching.. or not?