San Diego’s Giovani Santillan goes for win #13
June 26, 2014
Tomorrow evening’s Thompson Boxing Promotions “Path to Glory” show at the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario, CA features Artemio “King” Reyes going up against Abraham “the Swift” Alvarez Osuna in the Main Event and in the co-feature Giovani “El Gallo de Oro” Santillan of San Diego will face Joaquin “Chico” Chavez of Los Angeles.
Thursday’s weigh-ins for Path to Glory Show, Friday, June 27, at the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario, CA
Reyes will have 10-rounds to level Alvarez who in his last four fights hasn’t faired well. In his last fight, against the 22 year-old sensation Jose Benavidez from Phoenix, Arizona (20-0, 14 KOs), he didn’t get out of the second round. The fight before that he went up against 22 year-old southpaw Fidel Maldonado Jr. (18-2, 15 KOs) and he only lasted a minute and 44 seconds.
The fight before that, it was 25 year-old Jose Zepeda (19-0, 16 KOs) from La Puente, CA. Leading up to his last fight on March 1, 2014, Zepeda registered 12 straight KOs. In the fight with Zepeda, Alvarez went down once in the fifth round, and twice more in the sixth before the bout was stopped.
Then he fought someone more his speed, 36 year-old southpaw Armando Robles (24-3-2, 12 KOs) of Mexicali, B. C., Mexico and in that match he failed to get past the third round.
After looking over Reyes’ 23 opponents you’ll notice 17 of them had a winning record when they fought Reyes. In the case of Alvarez, in his first 18 fights, only five of his opponents had a winning record. There in lies the difference between a serious contender and a journeyman.
Now we turn to the Co-Main Event featuring undefeated welterweight prospect Santillan (12-0, 7 KOs) of San Diego, CA and his opponent Chavez of Los Angeles, CA (7-13-3, 2 KOs).
(l to r) Giovani Santillan, Joaquin Chavez All photos: Carlos Baeza
In Santillan’s last fight on April 25, 2014, he outpointed the skilled and previously unbeaten Daniyar Hanyk (10-1) of the Ukraine. At 22-years of age and being a dangerous southpaw, the Thompson people realize he’s more that just your average prospect. Day in and day out, Santillan remains fully committed to the sport. He’s like a diamond and promoters love it when their diamond sparkles.
It appears the Chavez management team is not as concerned, especially when it comes to their fighter’s win, loss record. Or why would they have Chavez fight 11 times in one year, that year being 2013. This will be Chavez’s fourth fight at the Doubletree Hotel where his record is 1-3. Santillan’s record at the Doubletree is 7-0. The notables that Chavez has beaten – Antonio Arellano (6-1-1) of San Diego and Brian Jones (7-0) of Los Angeles.
(l to r) Danny “Baby Face Assassin” Roman of Garden Grove, CA and Jonathan “Lil Thunder” Arellano from Ontario, CA. All photos: Carlos Baeza
In what should be a great match-up they have super bantamweights Danny “Baby Face Assassin” Roman (8-2-1, 4 KOs) of Garden Grove, CA and Jonathan “Lil Thunder” Arellano (13-2-2, 3 KOs) of Ontario, CA trading leather in a scheduled eight rounder.
With both Roman and Arellano known for throwing an extraordinary high volume of punches, this fight should be a doozy. Especially since Arellano is coming off that loss to Rico Ramos in January, and Roman being 1-1 in his last two fights.
(l to r) Super Featherweights Erick Ituarte and Cesar Valenzuela
In other action, undefeated Super Featherweight prospect Erick Ituarte (7-0-1, 1 KO) of Santa Ana, CA faces the taller Cesar Valenzuela (7-3-1, 3 KOs) of Phoenix, Arizona in a 6-rounder. As you can see from the number of knockouts neither boxer is a heavy hitter.
Preceding that Ituarte vs. Valenzuela bout, they have lightweight prospect Ken Alvarez (6-0-1, 3 KOs) of San Juan, Puerto Rico hoping to preserve his unbeaten record against the hot and cold Joshua Marks (8-5, 8 KOs) from San Diego, CA in a 6-rounder.
Weights from today’s weigh-ins
Main Event: 27 year-old Artemio Reyes (21-2, 17 KOs), Riverside, CA 146.8 lbs. vs. Abraham Alvarez (16-5-1, 7 KOs), Rosario, Sinaloa, Mexico 146.8 lbs.
22 year-old Giovani Santillan (12-0-0, 7 KOs), San Diego, CA 139.6 lbs. vs. Joaquin “Chico” Chavez (7-13-3, 2 KOs) of Los Angeles, CA 139.5 lbs.
24 year-old Daniel “The Baby Faced Assassin” Roman (9-2-1, 4 KOs), Los Angeles 123 lbs. vs. 26 year-old Jonathan Arellano, Ontario, CA (14-3-2, 3 KOs) 122.9 lbs.
Erick Ituarte (7-0-1, 1 KO), Santa Ana, CA 129.9 lbs. vs. 24 year-old Cesar Valenzuela (6-3-1) Phoenix, Arizona, 130 lbs.
Ken Alvarez (6-0-1, 3 KOs), San Juan, Puerto Rico 138 lbs. vs. 27 year-old Joshua “Superman” Marks (8-5, 8 KOs) San Diego, CA 137.6 lbs.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the first bell rings at 7:45 p.m. The Doubletree Hotel is located at 222 N. Vineyard Dr., Ontario, CA 91764 and can be reached at (909) 937-0900.
