Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation welterweight king and World Boxing Council no. 6 Rev “Gentle Giant” Santillan of Jaro, Iloilo City, fighting out of Cebu’s Wakee Salud Stable, is all poised to make the second defence of his newly-regained crown when he takes on challenger Kazuhiko Hidaka in a 12-round battle of southpaws on March 19 at the famed Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan.
The power-punching 5’11 southpaw, the country’s heaviest world-ranked fighter, revealed in an interview yesterday that his preparation is well on schedule and his sparring sessions have all been against top-notch fighters.
The 27-year-old Santillan, managed by Cebu’s kingmaker Rex “Wakee” Salud and trained by Brix Flores, has kept himself in shape at the Wakee Salud gym in Labangon, Cebu where he has already racked up some 60 rounds of sparring against Ramil Caballes and Dexter Delada, who is himself preparing for a titular showdown with Bobby Pacquiao.
Santillan will be accompanied in his Japan sortie by his manager Wakee Salud, trainer Brix Flores and Filipino boxing judge Alex Vidal.
The 5’10 Hidaka, also a southpaw, parades a 20-4 win-loss card with 14 KO’s. The 26-year-old Tokyo fighter is on a five-bout winning streak since his failed attempt at the heavier Japanese light-middleweight crown in 2003.
Santillan, nicknamed “Gentle Giant” because of his likable demeanor outside the ring, owns a 21-1-1 win-loss-draw record with 15 KO’s. The only blemishes in his otherwise outstanding resume is a highly-controversial loss and draw with Hiroshi Watanabe, whom he had convincingly beaten in their third encounter in April last year, giving Santillan the chance to redeem his old OPBF title.
**** Two of the country’s former world title hopes suffered similar feats as they bowed to their respective South African foes yesterday in their title showdown at the Orient Theatre in East London, South Africa.
Tall and lanky Roger Galicia, who once reigned as the WBC International bantam champ, knocked down undefeated Gabula “The Tiger” Vabaza in the second round, but failed to follow up as he was outpointed by unanimous decision in their 12-round WBA Intercontinental championship.
It was Galicia’s third loss in his last four fights. Prior to yesterday’s bout, Galicia had also lost to Martin Castillo in a WBA superfly eliminator, took a draw with Yuki Murai in Japan, as was beaten by another Japanese, Prosper Matsuura last November.
Rolly Lunas, the former Pan-Asia Boxing Association flyweight champ, figured in the night’s best fight against former three-time world champiopn Masibulele “Hawk” Makepula for the WBC International crown, but was outpointed on a unanimous decision verdict.
Lunas, once considered as a very bright Filipino prospect, took his third defeat in his last five outings following two little-known victories in Mindanao.
The event was promoted by South Africa’s Promoter of the Year, Branco Milenkovic.
