Giovani Santillan Stops Alexis Rocha in Six

NEW YORK (October 22, 2023) – Giovani Santillan remained undefeated in capturing the NABO Welterweight title with an empathic six-round beatdown of WBO number-one ranked Alexis Rocha in a bout that headlined a DAZN streamed card at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, California,

Santillan is managed by Split-T Management.

Santillan put a career best performance as he battered and bloodied the highly regarded Rocha from the outset,

Santillan, who began to bloody Rocha as early as round three, scored two knockdowns in round five. The first was set up by an uppercut. By that time the face of Rocha was a mess and Santillan continued to pour it on and the stoppage was inevitable.

That came just a round later when Santillan continued his assault that resulted in the third knockdown of the fight and the fight was mercifully waved off in favor of Santillan at 1:13.

“I feel good. It was the outcome we were looking for. You never know how these types of fights will go,” said Santillan. “Alexis is a great fighter, and he’s tough. He got up twice and he’s never been stopped before! It’s different with all these people here and when you’re the b-side. He brought all his fans and his supporters which makes boxing a great sport. 2024 is going to be a great year for me now with this performance. I needed this to secure a title shot.”

“Giovani is a testament to hard work and perseverance. He’s the consummate professional and one of the nicest guys you will ever meet. Against Rocha the rest of the world got to see he can really fight also,” said David McWater of Split-T Management.

Santillan of San Diego is promoted by Top-Rank and is now 32-0 with 17 knockouts.




Giovani Santillan Takes on Alexis Rocha in High-Stakes Main Event

NEW YORK (October 21, 2023) -Tonight from the Kia Forum in Inglewood, California, Split-T Management’s undefeated welterweight, WBO number-five ranked Giovani Santillan takes on WBO number-one ranked Alexis Rocha in a bout that could lead to a very significant fight for the winner.

Santillan of San Diego has a record of 31-0 with 16 knockouts. The 31-year-old has wins over Peter Haro (2-0), Michael Balasi (10-2), Daniyar Hanyk (10-0), Osenohan Vazquez (7-1-1), Eduardo Rivera (9-1-2), Ernesto Ortiz Centeno (10-2), Omar Tineda Bahena (18-3), Sammy Valentin (12-0), Dotzi Keneh (19-1), Alejandro Barboza (11-1), former world champion Antonio DeMarco (33-8-1), Cecil McCalla (23-4), Angel Ruiz (17-1), Jeovanis Baraza (23-2), Julio Luna Avila (19-0-2) and a 10-round unanimous decision over Erick Bone (27-6) on July 22nd in Shawnee, Oklahoma.

Rocha of Santa Ana, California is 23-1 with 15 knockouts. The surging 26-year-old has quality wins over Cesar Valenzuela (7-0), Miguel Dumas Perez (10-1), Carlos Ortiz Cervantes (11-2), Berlin Abreu (14-2), Roberto Valenzuela Jr. (11-1), Brad Solomon (28-2), James Bacon (26-4), Jeovanis Beranza (23-1), Blair Cobbs (15-0-1), Luis Alberto Veron (19-4-2), Jesus Perez (24-3), George Ashie (33-5-1) and his bout when he took out Anthony Young (24-2) on May 27th in Indio, California.

The Top-Rank promoted Santillan weighed 146 lbs, while Rocha was 147 lbs.

The fight will headline a DAZN streamed card beginning at 8 PM ET.




Giovani Santillan and Stephan Shaw in Action in Shawnee, Oklahoma

NEW YORK (July 22, 2023) – TONIGHT at The Firelake Arena Shawnee, Oklahoma, two Split-T Management fighters will be in action in fights that will be streamed live on ESPN+ at 6:15 PM ET.

Undefeated welterweight Giovani Santillan will take on veteran Erick Bone in a 10-round bout, while Stephan Shaw will take on Joe Goodall in an eight-round scrap.

Santillan of San Diego has a perfect mark at 30-0 with 16 knockouts. The 31 year-old Santillan has built his record by defeating tough opponents such as Peter Haro (2-0), Michael Balasi (10-2), Daniyar Hanyk (10-0), Osenohan Vazquez (7-1-1), Eduardo Rivera (9-1-2), Ernesto Ortiz Centeno (10-2), Omar Tienda Bahana (18-3), Sammy Valentin (12-0), Dodzi Kemeh (19-1), Alejandro Barboza (11-1), former world champion Antonio DeMarco (33-8-1), Cecil McCalla (23-4), Angel Ruiz (17-1), Jeovanis Barraza (23-2) and on August 20, 2022 when Santillan won a 10-round unanimous decision over Julio Avila (19-0-2) in San Diego.

Bone of Ecuador is 27-6 with 14 knockouts. The 34 year-old Bone has defeated the likes of Luis Carlos Tejedor (3-0) and Mahonri Montes (29-3-1). Bone has won seven straight fights, which includes a fifth round stoppage of Roberto Verdago on March 18th in Quito, Ecuador.

Santillan, who is promoted by Top Rank, weighed 147.8 lbs. Bone was 147.6.

Shaw of Saint Louis is 18-1 with 13 knockouts. The 30 year-old Shaw is looking to re-establish himself in the heavyweight picture as he already has wins over Danny Kelly (9-2-1), Jonathan Rice (4-1-1), Joel Caudle (7-1-1), Donovan Dennis (12-3), Willie Jake Jr. (8-2-1), Gregory Corbin (15-2), Lyubomyr Pinchuk (12-1-1) and Rydell Booker (26-6-1). Shaw is coming off his first setback as he dropped a decision to Efe Ajagba on January 14th in Verona, New York.

Goodall of Brisbane, Australia has a record of 9-1-1 with eight knockouts. The 31 year-old has defeated Sumit Rangi (4-1-1) and his last bout when he Arseno Fosso in three rounds in Queensland, Australia on September 15, 2022.

Shaw is co-promoted by DiBella Entertainment and Top Rank.

Shaw checked in at 244 lbs. Goodall was 238 lbs.

Photo Credit: Mikey Williams/Top Rank via Getty Images




AUDIO: Giovani Santillan Previews fight with Erick Bone






VIDEO: Giovani Santillan Previews fight with Erick Bone




AUDIO: The Abrams Boxing Show: EP 52 w/Giovani Santillan and Stephan Shaw






VIDEO: The Abrams Boxing Show: EP 52 w/Giovani Santillan and Stephan Shaw




Giovani Santillan, Antonio Mireles and Joseph Williams Remain Undefeated

NEW YORK (August 22, 2022)–Three Split-T Management fighters kept their undefeated records intact with victories over the weekend.

Saturday night at The Pechanga Arena in San Diego, Giovani Santillan remained undefeated and won a 10-round unanimous decision over Julio Luna in a welterweight contest.

In round two, Santillan was cut along the right side of his forehead. Santillan fought through a cut over his right eye. It was a tough fight throughout that saw Santillan push the action.

Santillan, 147.4 lbs of San Diego, CA won by scores of 100-90 twice and 96-94 and is now 30-0. Luna, 147.4 of Gomez Palacios, MEX is 19-1-2.

“It was a lot tougher than I expected. Luna gave me a great fight, and I am just thankful for the opportunity to fight once again in my hometown,” Santillan said.

Santillan is promoted by Top Rank and Thompson Boxing.

On the same card, Antonio Mireles shook off a first round knockdown to come back and stop Kaleel Carter in round two of their four-round heavyweight bout.

In round one, Charles dropped Mireles with a hard combination. In round two, Mireles landed a vicious combination that spun Carter around and the bout was stopped at 1:52.

Mireles, 266 lbs of Des Moines, IA is now 5-0 with five knockouts. Carter, 237 lbs of Bellflower, CA is 2-2.

Mireles is promoted by Top Rank.

Friday night in San Juan, Puerto Rico, cruiserweight Joseph Williams stopped Jermin King in round two of their six-round bout.

Williams dominated the action, and the bout was stopped at 1:46 for Williams of Far Rockaway Queens, New York, who improved his record to 14-0 with nine knockouts. King of Brooklyn is 6-15-1.

Williams is promoted by DiBella Entertainment.




Undefeated Giovani Santillan and Antonio Mireles in Action in San Diego on Saturday

NEW YORK (August 19, 2022)–Saturday night at The Pechanga Arena in San Diego, two undefeated fighters from the Split-T Management stable will be in action.

Welterweight Giovani Santillan takes on fellow undefeated Julio Luna in a bout scheduled for 10-rounds.

Santillan of San Diego is close to having that breakthrough fight as he will enter the ring with an impressive record of 29-0 with 16 knockouts.

The 30 year-old Santillan is a 10 year-professional who has risen up the ranks on the strength of wins over Peter Haro (2-0), Michael Balasi (10-2-1), Daniyar Hanyk (10-0), Osenohan Vazquez (7-1-1), Eduardo Rivera (9-1-2), Ernesto Ortiz Centeno (10-2), Omar Tineda Bahena (18-3), Sammy Valentin (12-0), Dodzi Kemeh (19-1), Alejandro Barboza (11-1), former world champion Antonio DeNarco (33-8-1), Angel Ruiz (17-1) and his last outing when stopped Jeovanis Barraza (23-2) in seven rounds in Costa Mesa, California.

Santillan is promoted by Top Rank and Thompson Boxing.

Luna of Durango, Mexico is 19-0-2 with 10 knockouts. Avila, 24 years-old, has quality results over Oscar Ivan Tapia (6-0), Ricardo Salas Rodriguez (16-1) and his last bout when took a 10-round unanimous decision over Jafel Perales (18-1-1) on May 14th in Mexico. This will be the American debut for Avila.

Santillan weighed 147.4 lbs; Luna was 147.4 lbs.

The fight will be televised live on ESPN at 10 PM ET

Credit: Mikey Williams/Top Rank via Getty Images

Big 6’9″ heavyweight Antonio Mireles will look to continue his impressive start to his career when he takes on Kaleel Carter in a four-round bout.

Mireles has taken out all four of his opponents inside of two rounds. The 25 year-old has a stoppage over previously undefeated Brandon Hughes. In his most recent bout, Mireles stopped Dennys Reyes in round two on July 23rd in Hinckley, Minnesota.

Mireles, of Mexican-American descent, initially began boxing at the Des Moines PAL at the age of 12 and started competing at 15. He was guided for his entire amateur career by a pair of two strong coaches in John Saunders and Elly Nunez.

In his relatively brief, but extremely successful run in the amateurs, Mireles compiled a record of 28-4 with 10 knockouts – culminating in winning the 2020 USA Olympic Trials in the Super Heavyweight division. He was also a 2019 National Golden Gloves Champion, a 2019 Eastern Elite Amateur Champion and a five-time Iowa Golden Gloves Champion.

Mireles is promoted by Top Rank.

Carter of Bellflower, California is 2-1 with both of his victories coming inside the distance.

Carter is coming off a second round stoppage over Raymundo Crispin Diaz on June 22nd in Tijuana, Mexico.

Mireles weighed 266 lbs. Carter 237 lbs.

The fight will be streamed on ESPN+ at 6:30 PM ET

Photo by Esther Lin / SHOWTIME

Also on Saturday night, Split-T Management’s Will Madera takes on undefeated Brandun Lee in a junior welterweight bout scheduled for 10-rounds at The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida.

The fight will be live on SHOWTIME at 8 PM ET.

Madera of Albany, New York is 17-1-3 with 10 knockouts. The 31 year-old Madera is a nine-year professional and has wins over Victor Vazquez (1-0), Norbert Gluck (6-0), Gabriel Duluc (11-2), Thomas Mattice (13-0-1) and his last bout when he stopped Jamshidbek Najmitdinov on October 16, 2021 in Brooklyn, New York.

Madera weighed 142 1/2 lbs. Lee was 142 3/4.

Madera is promoted by Liveco.

Lee has skyrocketed into one of the top prospects in boxing. The 23 year-old of La Quinta, California is 25-0 with 22 knockouts. Lee has wins over Milton Arauz (10-1-1), Camilo Prieto (15-2), Jimmy Williams (16-3-2), Samuel Teah (17-3-1), Ezequiel Victor Hernandez (28-4-1), Juan Heraldez (16-1-1) and his last outing when he won a 10-round unanimous decision over Zachary Ochoa (21-2) on April 16th in Arlington, Texas.

Friday night in Puerto Rico, undefeated cruiserweight Joseph Williams takes on Jermin King in a six-round bout.

Williams from Far Rockaway Queens, New York is 13-0 with eight knockouts. The 34 year-old has wins over Joey Montoya (9-2-3), Chris Harris (2-0-2), Gabriel Castillo Rivera (15-0-1), and his last fight when he won a unanimous decision over Jose Mario Flores (8-1-2) on April 10, 2019 in New York.

King of Brooklyn is 6-14-1 with four knockouts. He is coming off a unanimous decision win over Juan Guerra on July 22nd.

Williams is promoted by DiBella Entertainment.




Undefeated Welterweight Contender Giovani Santillan Throws Out First Pitch at Padres Game

NEW YORK (JUNE 13, 2022)–Undefeated Welterweight contender Giovani Santillan threw out the first pitch at his beloved San Diego Padres game before Saturday’s game against the Colorado Rockies at Petco Park

The San Diego native, who is managed by Split-T Management and co-promoted by Top Rank and Thompson Boxing, wore number-one, threw a perfect strike that reminded fans of 1976 Cy Young Award winner Randy Jones.

“It was a great experience. Being born and raised in San Diego it was an honor to do this. The Padres have a great team, and being down on the field, and looking up in the stands, gave me the feeling of wanting to fight in a big stadium one day,” said Santillan.

Santillan has a record of 29-0 with 16 knockouts. His next bout will be announced soon.

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