July 30, (THEWILL) – In an intense bout, Mexico’s Alexandro Santiago claimed a unanimous 12-round decision victory over former four-division champion, Nonito Donaire, triumphantly clinching the vacant World Boxing Council bantamweight world title.
The bantamweight clash between Santiago and Donaire took place at the T-Mobile Arena, as part of the undercard for the highly anticipated welterweight world title unification bout between unbeaten Americans Errol Spence and Terence Crawford.
The 27-year-old Santiago profited from his determination and skills, denying the 40-year-old “Filipino Flash” a chance to bounce back from a devastating second-round knockout loss to Japan’s Naoya Inoue just over a year ago. Donaire put up a spirited fight, landing a powerful left hook in the third round that momentarily rocked Santiago.
However, as the match unfolded, Santiago’s pace proved too much for Donaire to handle, and he effectively countered Donaire’s attempts to gain momentum. The judges unanimously scored the contest in Santiago’s favour, with scores of 115-113 and 116-112. Santiago’s record improved to an impressive 28-3 with five draws and 14 knockouts, marking a significant milestone in his career.
The emotional post-fight scene saw Santiago moved to tears as Donaire offered a congratulatory hug, recognising his opponent’s commendable performance. Despite the loss, Donaire’s esteemed career, characterised by multiple world titles in different weight divisions, remains a testament to his unwavering dedication to the sport. Looking ahead, Donaire and his wife Rachel, who manages and trains him, will have a discussion to determine their future steps in the boxing world.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
