FORMER world title challenger Jeo Santisima returns to Japan and takes on undefeated prospect Kenji Fujita in an eight-rounder on Oct. 12, 2023 at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo.
Losing two of his last three fights in Japan, the 27-year-old Santisima believes that he must either dominate the fight or score a knockout for him to win on Japanese soil.
“I’ll put pressure on him and hope to hit my target,” Santisima told SunStar Cebu. “I’ll try to drop him and knock him out because I believe that it’s my only chance to win in Japan.”
Santisima fought his last three fights in Japan and only won once. He stopped veteran Hiroshige Osawa in the fifth round last year. He lost his next two fights by unanimous decision against Toshiki Shimomachi and Hayato Tsutsumi.
Fujita, who just turned pro in 2021, had an extensive amateur background. He is a 10-time national champion and finished his amateur career with 153 wins, 22 losses with 40 knockouts.
Fujita is coming off a second round stoppage of previously unbeaten Daniel Nicolas on June 2. Fujita also owns wins over Pinoy warriors Ronnie Campos and Jestine Tesoro.
Santisima is 22-6 with 19 knockouts, while Fujita is 4-0 with three knockouts.
In the main event, three-division world champion Johnriel Casimero (33-4, 22 KOs) locks horns with fellow former world titleholder Yukinori Oguni (21-2-2, 8 KOs).
Also in the same show, Froilan Saludar (33-7-1, 23 KOs) slugs it out Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) Keita Kurihara (17-7-1, 15 KOs), world-ranked Vince Paras (19-2-1, 15 KOs) is up against Kai Ishizawa (11-2, 10 KOs) and unbeaten prospect RV Deniega (9-0, 6 KOs) tests his mettle against Saul Sanchez (19-2, 12 KOs). / EKA