Can Santillan Ascend Further at 147 After Upsetting Rocha?
In his last bout, Giovani “Gallo De Oro” Santillan (32-0, 17 KO’s) easily picked up the best win of his professional career. In that bout, Santillan, ranked #5 (WBO) and #13 (IBF), stopped Alexis Roach in the sixth after dropping him three times. Ahead of the duel however, the popular opinion was that Rocha was the favorite and closing in on a fight with undisputed welterweight champion Terence “Bud” Crawford (40-0, 31 KO’s).
Of course, this latest defeat has completely melted those plans. So rather than Rocha, we must now ponder: who is next for Gallo De Oro? By the way that things are shaping up, it’s appearing unlikely that Santillan will get a shot at Crawford. This, however, does not mean that there are no other big fights on the horizon for the southpaw Californian.
TAKES TWO TO TANGO
Although he is coming off a loss, there is #3 (WBO) ranked Rashidi Ellis who has not competed since January. While Ellis himself is not the biggest name in the sport, he is higher up the WBO ranking ladder, in need of a fight and still a very worthy adversary for Santillan. Another big name, who happens to be coming off a loss is former 147-pound champion Yordenis “54 Milagros” Ugas (27-6, 12 KO’s).
If Santillan was successful in hunting a bit higher up the food chain, he and his team could snag a bout with Interim WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios. Barrios is coming directly off the biggest victory of his career against the aforementioned Yordenis Ugas. A duel between Santillan and Barrios would pit two fighters coming off unlikely big wins on a very visible stage against each other. A win would probably propel the victor into a whole new stratosphere.
TOP OF THE AVAILABLE MOUNTAIN?
One of the most dangerous assignments that Santillan might pursue is Interim IBF 147-pound champion Jaron “Boots” Ennis (31-0, 28 KO’s). Boots is just three months removed from his knockout win over Roiman Villa and in need of new opposition.
It’s no secret that Ennis has been fruitlessly chasing fights with undisputed welterweight champion Terence Crawford, former unified 147-pound champion Errol Spence Jr. and one-time champion Keith Thurman. Perhaps Santillan, with his new spot in the limelight, would make for suitable opposition for Boots. Now matter who gets the nod next, 3Kings Boxing will be here to report all the action.
