Santillan dropped Rocha twice in Spherical 5. Picture: Golden Boy / Cris Esqueda
This previous weekend there have been two important boxing matchups a number of thousand miles aside with prime 10 ramifications and potential future world title alternatives of their respective divisions.
One came about in Liverpool, England the place Jack Catterall (28-1, 13 knockouts), The Ring’s No. 6-ranked junior welterweight, outboxed faded former three-division titleholder Jorge Linares (47-9, 29 KOs) to assert a 12-round unanimous choice.
The opposite noticed rising star Alexis Rocha face unbeaten however largely unknown Giovanni Santillan. The second half is now not the case as Santillan (32-0, 17 KOs) bludgeoned Rocha (23-2, 15 KOs) to the canvas three times to score an eye-opening sixth round stoppage. Rocha, who entered as The Ring’s No. 5-rated welterweight will drop down if not out of the rankings, whereas the San Diego native will enter.
Whereas one man boxed effectively however inside himself and placed on a workmanlike show, the opposite blew the doorways down and despatched a transparent message to his division.
Santillan has been knowledgeable for a decade and remained unbeaten. Nonetheless, whereas a strong practioner, he’s been extra regular than spectacular, by no means in a position to separate himself from the gang.
The High Rank fighter took himself over to a Golden Boy present and made absolutely the most of his massive likelihood blitzing Rocha, who was additionally the WBO No. 1 contender.
One other step in direction of the purpose 🏆
ICYMI Giovani Santillan DEMOLISHED vs the WBO No. 1 contender final evening 😏 pic.twitter.com/1AOIpT3Y5Q
— High Rank Boxing (@trboxing) October 22, 2023
“I wanted to get this win to get massive fights sooner or later,” stated Santillan.
The win, a profession greatest, will see the 31-year-old effectively positioned if Terence Crawford vacates his cadre of welterweight titles or seems to be to defend them.
Jack Catterall (left) vs. Jorge Linares. Picture / @MatchroomBoxing
The identical can’t fairly be stated for Catterall. It was a really strong efficiency, he did all the precise issues however when the chance was there on the finish of Spherical 5, or early the sixth spherical to step on the gasoline and take out Linares, he didn’t do it. Even within the second half of the struggle Catterall didn’t step up his assault and look to make a press release.
It’s nothing towards Catterall, it’s extra that the junior welterweight division is reasonably crowded and a strong efficiency doesn’t actually advance him and appears extra of a treading water train. Possibly Catterall, who clearly had the upmost respect for Linares, wants that edge to carry out his greatest.
It provides the opposite prime 140-pounders on the planet an excuse to not face him. Afterall, it says right here no person at junior welterweight has a straightforward instances with Catterall.
Catterall and his promoter Eddie Hearn have been each vocal afterwards about going through Josh Taylor in a rematch after their controversial first go round in February 2022.
The 30-year-old Brit instructed DAZN moments after his win: “[Josh] Taylor, the place are you? Shithouse!”
Talks quickly 👀🔜 @trboxing @jack_catt93 @JoshTaylorBoxer
Full @EddieHearn response from final evening in Liverpool 🎥👇 #CatterallLinares
— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) October 22, 2023
There’s actual discord between each fighters and whether or not they might resume hostilities is unknown at this level however it might make sense for each. Taylor is the larger title however didn’t look good in that struggle and has since misplaced to Teofimo Lopez. The query is does he wish to do it after dropping his unbeaten document?
The opposite goal you’d assume could be the winner of WBC titlist Regis Prograis-Devin Haney, who additionally each occur to additionally work with Matchroom.
It’s a reminder that whereas a win is the goal of the sport, the way you do it issues. It leaves the viewer wanting extra and looking out ahead to seeing a selected boxer struggle once more.
Questions and/or feedback might be despatched to Anson at [email protected].
