Alamodome, San Antonio, USA. In the co-main event of the show, former world champion American Mario Barrios (27-2, 18 KOs) and Puerto Rican Giovani Santiago (14-3-1, 10 KOs) competed for the vacant WBC Continental Americas welterweight title (up to 66.7 kg). Barrios won.
Turns out he left Virgil Hunter for Bob Santos. Wow!
Favorite Barrios took the center of the ring, began to push the opponent. He had a great advantage in anthropometry – he controlled the distance, pace and density of the battle. Santiago answered only a few seconds before the gong – the combination went through the body.
Barrios combined very solidly. In the 3rd round, he pinned the opponent in the corner of the ring, but he clinched in time. Santiago tried to snap, but only took a few episodes.
All action through @Boxer_Barrios and Jovanie Santiago are going at it early in the Alamodome #BarriosSantiago | #VargasFoster pic.twitter.com/gRyh6FLcVz
— SHOWTIME Boxing (@ShowtimeBoxing) February 12, 2023
The fight got a bit messed up in the 4th round. The underdog broke through to the close distance, and the favorite immediately knitted him. The referee reprimanded both just in case. And he’s right. More fouls in the 5th three-minute period, including low blows.
Barrios powerfully held the 6th round, shook the opponent several times, solidly disturbed the body. The Puerto Rican in the corner was warned that if he couldn’t fix anything, they would stop the fight. That’s right, as the fight becomes one-sided. Nothing changed in the 7th three-minute period, but the Puerto Rican was not removed from the fight.
On the dot @Boxer_Barrios nails Jovanie Santiago with a vicious right in the 7th #BarriosSantiago | #VargasFoster pic.twitter.com/SmXuAshRp2
— SHOWTIME Boxing (@ShowtimeBoxing) February 12, 2023
In the 8th round, Santiago finally took the knee. He continued the fight, but finally switched to survival mode, missed a lot, cuts and hematomas adorned his face. The referee stepped in and stopped the fight.
Barrios TKO 8.