Jeo “Santino” Santisima in Action AgaInst Joet Gonzalez Feb 5 in Fresno, CA

By Carlos Costa

In a rumble of two former world-title challengers, skilled Filipino former ALA star Jeo “Santino” Santísima (21-3, 16 KO’s) of Masbate gets back into thrilling international action when he battles experienced Mexican-American Joet González (24-2, 14 KO’s) in a tough Featherweight rumble signed for Saturday, February 5, at the Save Mart Center in Fresno, California, live on ESPN +

That’s why “Santino” is right now laser-focused on completing his training and preparation so as to get ready to claim an exciting, telling win in the U.S., same as his former ALA stalemate Jonas “Zorro” Sultán (18-5, 11 KO’s) did last October in New York.

Will Santino be able to achieve victory against the gutsy battle-tested Gonzalez in the Mexican-American hometown?

Santini’s many followers in Cebu, Masbate and all over the Philippines think he can.

Yes, as fans remember, two years ago the 25-year-old Santino missed the mark, getting a rough setback against Mexican brutal slugger Emanuel Navarrete in Las Vegas.

The blow-by-blow war unfolded at the MGM Grand as the co-feature for the 2018 Tyson Fury vs Deontay Wilder súper hot historic battles; and the result was not the one big-heart warrior Sanntino wanted.

Pero that difficult miss-step is now in the rear-view mirror.

The loss was a learning experience that has made Santino a stronger, more-matured, more-focussed, better fighter.

Therefore, while not at all easy, a victory over Joet González on Feb 5 can be achieved.

Obviously, it is a tough mission.

A triumph would rocket Santino back up high into the world-rankings sky, exponentially increasing his possibilities for a second golden shot at a world title.

Which is exactly the same thing that Gonzalez wants.

In his mind, Joet Gonzalez needs so bad to get pass the brave Pinoy warrior to get a third crack at a world title after his two failed attempts against world champions Shakur Stevenson (17-0, 9 KO’s) in 2019 and Emanuel “Vaquero” Navarrete (35-1, 29 KO’s) just last October, attempts that the 28-year-old Californian lost by points.

So at the end who will get the win?

Will the victorious one be the tough 25-year-old Pinoy, wanting to make his mark in boxing, or will it be the Mexican-American with dreams of World Title glory?

Promoted by Bob Arum’s Top Rank, the crucial Joet González vs Jeo “Santisima 126-pound clash is the hot co-feature for the main event headlined by the 12-rounder super lightweight war between former champions Mexican-American José Carlos “El Jaguar” Ramirez (26-1, 17 KO’s) and Puerto Rican José “The Sniper” Pedraza (29-3, 14 KO’s).

Best of Luck, Santino!

The author can be reached at carlos512@hotmail.com