Masbate’s Jeo Santisima hopes to join four Filipino fighters who are currently world boxing champions but he faces a huge obstacle in WBO superbantamweight titlist Emanuel Navarrete of Mexico to make his dream come true. The four Filipino world champions are super WBA welterweight king Sen. Manny Pacquiao, WBO bantamweight titleholder John Riel Casimero, IBF superflyweight ruler Jerwin Ancajas and IBF minimumweight beltholder Pedro Taduran.
Santisima, 23, is ranked No. 4 by the WBO and his shot to dethrone Navarrete will come at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Feb. 22. The ALA Boxing contender has won his last 17 fights, 15 by knockout, and hasn’t lost since dropping a majority six-round decision to Marlon Arcilla in 2014. His record is 19-2, with 16 KOs, and his only other setback was by a four-round verdict to Roniel Parcon in his pro debut in 2013.
Santisima has never fought abroad so his overseas debut will be a baptism of fire. Navarrete, 25, is a tough customer who made four successful defenses last year to raise his record to 30-1, with 26 KOs. Two of his victims were Filipinos – Mig Elorde who was stopped in the fourth round last September and Glenn Porras who capitulated in the second in 2018. If Navarrete underestimates Santisima and takes him lightly, he’ll pay the price. Santisima is a fast starter and has posted six first round knockouts. In contrast, Navarrete usually gathers steam as the fight progresses although he scored opening round knockouts in his first five bouts as a pro. If Santisima gets the drop on Navarrete early, it could set the tone for the fight.
Santisima can’t afford to let Navarrete’s power dictate the tempo of the action. He has to be sly and clever. Navarrete likes to attack with both fists churning so Santisima must be quick on his feet to slip and slide. If Santisima can catch Navarrete coming in with a counter, it’ll be a game-changer.
In the latest ratings, four Filipinos are ranked No. 1 – Nonito Donaire Jr. in the WBC bantamweight division, Michael Dasmarinas in the IBF bantamweight division, Giemel Magramo in the WBO flyweight division and Melvin Jerusalem in the WBC minimumweight division. Donaire has been designated the mandatory challenger of WBC titlist Nordine Oubaali of France and their showdown will likely be in Los Angeles in April. Dasmarinas will wait his turn because IBF champion Naoya Inoue, who also holds the super WBA belt, has an appointment with Casimero at Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, on April 25.
Magramo would’ve been the next challenger of Kosei Tanaka but the Japanese has relinquished the WBO flyweight crown to move up to the superflyweight class. Last December, Tanaka demolished China’s Wulan Tuolehazi in the third round to post the third defense of his title. The No. 2 contender is Puerto Rico’s Angel Acosta and Japan’s Junto Nakatani is rated No. 3.
Acosta, 29, has a frightening 21-2 record, with 21 KOs. Every win has come inside the distance. He has lost twice – to Tanaka on points and to WBO lightflyweight titlist Elwin Soto on a 12th round stoppage. Nakatani, 22, is a 5-7 southpaw with a 20-0 record, including 15 KOs. His last two victims were Filipinos Milan Melindo (KO6) and Philip Cuerdo (KO1). Magramo will have his hands full with either fighter.
But don’t count out Magramo who’s a human buzzsaw. He packs a 24-1 record, with 20 KOs and has won his last seven bouts, all in abbreviated fashion. Magramo comes from a family of fighters. His grand-uncle Ric Magramo Sr. was a former Philippine flyweight champion who campaigned from 1961 to 1970. His father Melvin went the full route with Pacquiao in a Cebu fight in 1997 and was a rugged battler who figured in 61 bouts from 1990 to 2003. His uncle Ronnie was a former WBF minimumweight titleholder. Another uncle Ric, Jr. was a fighter, too. His brother Arvin is an aspiring lightflyweight with a 12-1-1 record, including 8 KOs. Boxing is in the Magramo bloodline.
Magramo’s manager Johnny Elorde said the title crack is coming but when is still up in the air. “Until we get the contract, nothing is really sure,” said Elorde’s wife Liza. The betting is Japanese promoter Akihiko Honda will arrange the fight for the vacant title between Magramo and Nakatani with the winner to defend the crown against Acosta. But since Acosta is Puerto Rican and the WBO is headquartered in San Juan, it’s also possible that WBO president Paco Valcarcel, who is Puerto Rican, could order a Magramo-Acosta bout with the winner to take on Nakatani. Either way, Magramo will get a shot at the vacant throne.
Jerusalem, 25, has a 15-2 record, with 9 KOs and his claim to fame is nearly holding unbeaten WBC 105-pound champion Wanheng Menayothin of Thailand to a majority draw in 2017. Wanheng beat Jerusalem on a razor-thin unanimous decision but if the Filipino hadn’t been docked a point for a low blow, it would’ve been a majority draw. Wanheng has a 54-0 record, with 18 KOs. The Thai won the WBC crown in 2014 and has since made 12 successful defenses. Jerusalem has fought only once overseas and that was when he engaged Wanheng in Phitsanulok. Wanheng has never fought outside Thailand and if a rematch happens, it will likely be in the champion’s turf.
ALA Boxing president Michael Aldeguer is in no hurry to rush Jerusalem into a return engagement with Wanheng. “We’re just waiting for the right time,” he said. Wanheng is 34 and he’s not getting any younger. There’s a lot of wear and tear in his armor. Jerusalem is due for a mandatory challenge and when the WBC orders it, he’ll be ready to exact revenge.