There were certainly easier ways for Giovani Santillan to bide his time.
The unbeaten welterweight instead decided to bet on himself and accept a dangerous showdown versus top-rated contender Alexis Rocha. The two meet this Saturday atop a DAZN show from the Kia Forum in Inglewood, California.
“I’m very excited for this opportunity,” Santillan said Thursday afternoon during the final pre-fight press conference. “I’ve been working very hard for this. I plan to make the most out of this opportunity I’m getting. I’m planning to make a statement and show the world who I am.
Santillan (31-0, 16KOs) is ranked number-five by the WBO, who has Rocha (23-1, 15KOs) as its number-one contender at welterweight. Both boxers could have waited out separate shots at the welterweight title but chose to race toward each other when the offer was presented for this very fight.
Rocha has won seven in a row as he enters the well-received headliner less than an hour from his Santa Ana hometown. Santillan only has to travel a little further, just shy of two hours from his San Diego hometown as he enjoys a quick turnaround. The 31-year-old southpaw is coming off a ten-round win over Erick Bone on July 22 in Shawnee, Oklahoma, a fight which ended an eleven-month ring absence.
A win either way will leave the winner in a terrific position in the year ahead.
Undisputed welterweight champion Terence ‘Bud’ Crawford (40-0, 31KOs) has spoken almost exclusively about superfights, but at some point will either have to defend his crown or begin letting go off titles. He was originally ordered to face Rocha earlier this year. The WBO rescinded upon learning he’d renewed talks with then-unbeaten WBC, WBA and IBF champ Errol Spence, whom Crawford beat via ninth-round stoppage to fully unify the division.
For now, Santillan is honored for the chance to shine in this bout and relatively close to home in an historic venue.
“Being the main event at the Forum is something very meaningful to me,” noted Santillan. “It’s going to be an exciting night.”
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox