Photo Credit: Fernando Gaztambide
Ponce, Puerto Rico – It was a successful return for Ponce’s very own Mario ‘Principe’ Santiago.
Santiago (22-3, 14 KOs) scored an eight round unanimous decision over rugged Hector Marengo (5-3-4, 3 KOs). The jitters were let out by Santiago in the opening round as he connected on a few shots. Santiago already started to settle into his own rhythm in the second by timing his opponent and countering shots.
Marengo was on the receiving end of Santiago’s combinations in round three. ‘Principe’ was stunned in the fourth by a potent right punch from Marengo and nearly went down. The Ponce native turned the tide when he battered Marengo throughout round five. A cut above the right eye of Santiago in round six was a result of a head butt from the outgunned but gamed Marengo.
The last two rounds were won by Santiago as he out hustled Marengo. The last time Santiago saw action was in May of 2010 when he lost a 12 round decision to Jorge Solis for the interim WBA junior lightweight title. A managerial contract dispute kept Santiago him away from the ring for over two years.
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In the pre main event bout Fernando Torres (18-2-1, 10 KOs) defeated the always entertaining, Samuel ‘Samito’ Santana (5-7-2) by a six round split decision in an exciting junior welterweight contest. Santana dropped Torres at the end of the first round with a right hand. The second round saw ‘Samito’ building his confidence by landing a couple of uppercuts and cornering Torres in the ring.
Torres had his best round so far in the third by being the more accurate puncher and scoring a knockdown later in the round. In the fourth Torres floored Santana once again with a crisp right hand. A fourth knockdown in the fight was registered in round five when Torres hammered Santana once again with an overhand right. A late rally by Santana in the sixth and final round was not enough to get the victory.
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Featherweight rookie Edgardo Laboy (4-0, 2 KOs) stopped Angel Lopez (3-12, 2 KOs) in the second round with a body shot. Lopez was floored by a knockdown in the first round, but he complained to the referee that it was a head butt and not a punch by Laboy that brought him down.
Undercard:
Edwin ‘Puto’ Rodriguez (1-0, 1 KO) enjoyed a successful debut when Alberto M. Feliciano (0-1) failed to come out for the second round. Feliciano was knocked down twice in the first round. The fight was fought at the bantamweight limit.
Moises Velez (2-0, 1 KO) eked out a split decision victory over Wilfredo Garriga (0-1) in a four round junior lightweight contest. Velez slightly landed the more solid shots but still needed the last round to win the fight.
Junior flyweights Desmond Correa (1-0-1) and Julio ‘Tun Tun’ Irizarry (3-2-1, 1 KO) fought to a four round draw. Both fighters had various moments of holding and hitting.
Jimmy Suarez (2-4, 1 KO) knocked out fellow sloppy heavyweight Anthony Adorno (0-6), in the second round. Adorno refused to get up after receiving a body shot from Suarez.
