Santisima faces acid test

WORLD Boxing Organization (WBO) No. 5 ranked super bantamweight Jeo Santisima will be tested on Saturday night, Dec. 14, 2019, if he’s indeed ready for the next level.

Santisima is fighting former regional champion Rene Dacquel in a 10-rounder in the main event of “Bakbakan sa Bogo” at the Cellestino Martinez Sr. Sports Complex in Bogo City.

“We’ll see if he has matured and ready for bigger fights next year,” ALA Gym head coach Edito Villamor told SunStar Cebu. “We’ll wait what he’ll show tomorrow if he’s ready for an eliminator or a world title fight.”

The 23-year-old Santisima earlier said that he wants to fight for a world title if given the chance.

He’s ranked behind teammate No. 1 Albert Pagara, Arnold Khegai at No. 2, Thomas Patrick Ward at No. 3 and Tramaine Williams at No. 4 in the WBO super bantamweight division. Emanuel Navarrete is the current WBO super bantamweight champion.

“Jeo needs two to three more fights for him to move up and ranking and be at the top position,” said Villamor.

Dacquel should be a measuring stick if Santisima is ready for the higher level.

Dacquel has faced some credible names in Andrew Moloney, Takuma Inoue and Jonas Sultan.

Santisima is 18-2 with 15 knockouts, while Dacquel is 20-9-1, 6 KOs.

In the undercard, Pete Apolinar (10-1, 7 KOs) takes on Lloyd Jardeliza (8-10-4, 6 KOs), Fil-Japanese Go Hosaka (4-0, 3 KOs) faces off with veteran Boyce Sultan (10-12-1, 5 KOs), Regie Suganob (3-0, 1 KO) trades leathers Rolly Dorong (1-1-2) and Carlo Bacaro (4-0, 4 KOs) is up against Kelvin Tenorio (4-6, 2 KOs). (EKA)