ALA Boxing Gym’s Jeo “Santino” Santisima (right) fights against Junior Bajawa of Indonesia in the IDOL 2 Boxing Series at the Mandaue City Cultural and Sports Complex.
(CDN PHOTO/LITO TECSON)
Masbate City’s rising super bantamweight prospect Jeo “Santino” Santisima scored an easy third-round knockout victory over the visiting Indonesian Junior Bajawa last Saturday in the main bout of the IDOL 2 Boxing Series at the Mandaue City Cultural and Sports Complex.
Santisima of ALA Boxing Gym fulfilled his promise to end the bout early by launching a barrage of hooks to the head and body of Bajawa from the opening bell.
After continuing his onslaught in the second round with hits via hooks and straights, Santisima downed Bajawa for good in the third after a timely overhand to the head of the Indonesian.
The victory was Santisima’s 10th by knockout. He has a total of 11 wins with two losses.
Bajawa suffered his eighth loss to go with his 14 wins, seven by knockouts.
“I didn’t expect that he’d always be on the defensive because when I watched his video when he fought against AJ Banal, he kept on throwing punches,” Santisima said.
Santisima’s stablemate Melvin “Gringo” Jerusalem also put up a good fight as he defeated the favored WBC International Light Flyweight Champion Jonathan Refugio (15-5-4, 3KOs) via unanimous decision in the co-main event.
All three judges scored it 98-91 in favor of Jerusalem, who remained unbeaten after ten fights.
Meanwhile, Santisima’s trainer, former world title contender Michael Domingo, said he is proud of how his ward fought.
“He really listened and obeyed everything I told him to do,” Domingo said.
Domingo also said he thinks Santisima needs one more fight to make him ready for a title match. “He wasn’t really tested in this match. After one more fight, he should be ready for a title match.”
Santisima said he’ll just leave that decision to his promoters.
In the undercard, Jess Rhay Waminal (9-1-1) beat Joe Tejones (4-1-0) by split decision. Virgel Vitor scored a knockout victory against Paul Varona while Esneth Domingo won via a fifth-round knockout versus Elmer Liboon. Lawrence Ladrada also won by second-round knockout versus Thomas Rebusit.
The fight card is co-promoted by ALA Promotions International and ABS-CBN Sports and Action.