SADAM ALI OUTPOINTS FRANCISCO SANTANA IN THE GARDEN

NEW YORK ? In the co-feature of the heavyweight championship extravaganza between Wladimir Klitschko and Bryant Jennings in the Mecca of Boxing, Sadam Ali of Brooklyn out-boxed and outscored Francisco Santana of Santa Barbara, California in their 10 round welterweight clash.

Ali, unbeaten in his previous 21 fights, repelled the aggressiveness of Santana (22-3-1, 11 KOs) with effective movement and accurate marksmanship, which produced redness and swelling in Santana?s face early in the bout.

Santana, whose three previous defeats were from Jermell Charlo and Karim Mayfield (twice), attacked the hometown fighter from the opening round, throwing punches to the direction of Ali?s head and torso. Armed with combination punches, Santana forced Ali to the posts and the ropes numerous times in the fight - where he was able to sneak in left hooks that also produced swelling on the right side of Ali?s face in the second half of their fight.

But Ali was the better fighter of the two, he was untouched when he moved around Santana and he countered Santana effectively with his right hand. One right hook almost sent Santana to the canvas in the closing minute of the fight.

Ali?s combinations were also faster than Santana?s and despite his opponent?s aggressiveness, Ali landed more punches (196 of 588) versus Santana?s (153 of 720). He also led with jabs and power punches connected against his opponent?s output, as shown in the final numbers from Compubox.