ALEX Santisima Jr. is raring to go for the first title fight of his young pro career.
The 23-year-old Santisima Jr. faces the stiffest test of his career thus far, as he takes on fellow unbeaten up-and-comer Arnel Buyoc for the vacant Philippine Boxing Federation (PBF) super bantamweight strap in one of the featured bouts of Manny Pacquiao’s “Blow by Blow” boxing series on July 29, 2023 at the Filoil Eco Oil Center in San Juan City, Metro Manila.
“He’s doing well. He’s excited because this is a PBF title fight,” Santisima Jr.’s trainer, former ALA Boy Michael Domingo, told SunStar Cebu. “This will be a good match because they are undefeated. I know both of them will do their best so that their undefeated record won’t be tainted.”
Santisima Jr., the younger brother of one-time world title challenger Jeo Santisima, has had an impressive pro career so far. He turned pro in 2021 and scored a fourth-round stoppage of Jay Ar Arnates in 2021 in Talisay City. Santisima Jr. had a breakout year in 2022 after winning all four of his fights, which included a huge split-decision win over former regional champion and amateur stud Jess Rhey Waminal.
“Alex is more than ready. He’s had lots of quality sparring,” said Domingo.
For this camp, Santisima Jr. sparred with the likes of four-division world champion Donnie Nietes, world-rated Esneth Domingo, former Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation super bantamweight title holder Pete Apolinar, Japanese amateur pug Kiyoto Narukami and his brother Gabriel Santisima.
On the other hand, Buyoc is coming back from a 15-month layoff. His last fight was back on April 26, 2022, wherein he scored a ninth-round stoppage of battle-scarred veteran Marzon Cabilla.
Santisima Jr. is 6-0 with two knockouts, while Buyoc is 8-0-1 with a knockout.
In the other main feature, Kenneth Llover (9-0, 6 KOs) will trade leather with fellow unbeaten James Pagaling (8-0, 5 KOs) for the vacant Philippine Games and Amusements Board Youth bantamweight belt.
In the undercard, Cebuano John May Acope (4-1-1, 2 KOs) will be up against Dennis Endar (4-1-1, 3 KOs), Arvin John Sampaga (6-0, 3 KOs) will square off with Lorenz Dumam-ag (6-0-1, 4 KOs), Jimmy Canu (4-1, 1 KO) will fight Dannel Maamo (5-0, KOs), Bryan Cabrillos (3-0, 3 KOs) will lock horns with Harry Villena (2-0), Carl Jeffrey Basil (3-2, 2 KOs) will clash with Jerico Tanate (2-2) and Ronald Blanco (1-0) will slug it out with JM Guntayon (0-1). (EKA)