The Man behind the Scene - Fightnews Asia

By Lito delos Reyes

Matchmaker and promoter Brico Santig of La Trinidad, Benguet has been doing a good job lately in Dubai and Thailand.

It started with super flyweight Adrian “Wild Beast”Lerasan of Mandaluyong City, who won the vacant WBC Asia super flyweight title by a technical knockout in the 8th round over undefeated Tanes Ongiunta of Thailand last March 1, 2020 in Bangkok.

The 23-year-old Lerasan (11-4-0, 4KOs) then knocked out Suradech Ruhasiri in the 5th round to win the vacant WBC Asia Boxing Council Continental super flyweight title last October 2, 2021 at I-Mobile Football Stadium in Buriram.

His last fight was when he defended the WBC ABC0 title against Phonghsaphon Panyakum by a TKO in the 7th round last February 26, 2022 at Suamlum Night Bazaar in Ratchadaphisek, Bangkok.

“We are helping to build the next Filipino boxers to be world champions since we don’t have any more world champions at this moment,” said Santig, who is already based in Dubai.

But it did not start easy in Dubai for Santig. He brought featherweight KJ “The Ipugo” Natuplag, who lost by a unanimous decision to undefeated Hasilullah Ahmadi last June 5, 2021 at Hilton Al Habtoor City.

Santig and Natuplag were stranded in Dubai for several months and that started it all.

The 25-year-old Natuplag won in his next fight by a TKO over Argel Berrio of Colombia in the 4th round last September 12, 2021 at La Perle in Dubai.

Natuplag then knocked out Attanon Kunlawong of Thailand in the 2nd round to win the WBC Asia featherweight title last June 24, 2022 at VIC MMA Gym in Dubai.

Bantamweight Vincent “Asero” Astrolabio of GeneralSantos City beat former world champion Guillermo “The Jackal” Rigondeaux of Cuba by a unanimous decision to win the vacant WBC International bantamweight title last February 26, 2022 at Dubai Marina.

The 25-year-old Astrolabio (17-3-0, 12KOs) sent Rigondeaux down in round 8.

Santig then had two fighters fighting separately on the same day in Dubai.

Southpaw Norj Guro (12-7-1, 4KOs) of Iligan City beat Denise Castle of the United Kingdom by a split decision to win the vacant WBC Silver world female atom title last March 26, 2022 at the Habtoor Grand Hotel.

Light flyweight Miel “Silent Assassin” Fajardo (8-1-2, 7KOs) of Manila stopped world ranked Agustin Mauro Gauto (17-0) in the 2nd round last March 26 at the Duty Free Tennis Stadium.

Bantamweight Arthur “King” Villanueva (45-4-1, 19KOs) of Bacolod knocked out Jakpan Sangtong of Thailand in the 9th round last June 11, 2022 at Lalak Jan Stadium in Gilgit, Pakistan.

Unbeaten Jayson “Striker” Vayson of Bayugan, Agusan del Surbeat Nutlai Lalbiakkima of India by a split decision to win the vacant WBC ABCO silver light flyweight title last July 18, 2022 at the World Trade Centre in Dubai.

Asian Boxing Federation super lightweight champion Joepher Montano retained his title by knocking in the 1st round hard hitter Ari Agustian of Indonesia last June 24, 2022 at VIC -FCC sports Gym in Dubai.

In Thailand, super flyweight John Michael “Striker” Zulueta of Bacolod stopped Jack Amisa of Indonesia in the 5th round last April 14, 2022 at RCA Plaza-Space Plus Bar in Bangkok.

The 26-year-old Zulueta is still undefeated with 12 wins, two draws and five knockouts.

Undefeated super flyweight Herlan Gomez of Bacolod beat Parin Luangpon by a unanimous decision last May 28, 2022 at Suamlum Night Bazaar in Ratchadaphisek, Bangkok.

Santig would like to thank the effort of Guro’s manager Garry Connolly, VSG TEAM, Astrolabio’s manager-coach Nonoy Neri, MP Davao, Darwin Miller, Pinoy Boxing Prodogy’s manager of Villanueva and Fajardo’s manager Jose Monte Flores and VIC-FCC’s promoter Alessio Bissuti.

“We all worked together to achieve this victory and all the trainers, who sacrificed and trained very hard to attain this victory,” said Santig.

Santig’s Highland Promotion is set to make a big show in Bangkok on August 3 at Space Plus featuring five championship matches.Promoter Supanat Chanram in Partnership with Tony Chen (Space Plus), and Naris Singwangcha (ABF -Chairman)

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Brico Santig (right) with super flyweight Herlan Gomez