Photo by MARK RALSTON/AFP via Getty Images
It was a scarcely competitive but successful WBO junior featherweight title defense for Emanuel Navarrete.
WBO junior featherweight champion Emanuel Navarrete (31-1, 27 KO) may not be at this weight class for much longer, but for the time being he’s still one of the top guys at 122 lbs. Against Jeo Santisima (19-2, 16 KO), the exciting Mexican took a little longer than expected to get the victory, but he nevertheless got the TKO in the penultimate round on the undercard of Deontay Wilder vs. Tyson Fury 2.
Navarrete took the early rounds fairly comfortably but without really kicking it into second gear. Santisima gave him a scare in the fourth frame with a hard left hand on the neck that sent him stumbling. That moment only led to Navarrete turning up the heat and displaying his punching power and vicious combinations.
Round five seemingly marked the beginning of the end for the Filipino boxer, as he got beaten all over the ring by Navarrete’s tireless workrate, pressuring footwork, and diverse attacks to the head and body. Santisima was noticeably hurt by left hooks to the liver and Navarrete was cracking him with right hands upstairs with regularity.
Navarrete took a couple of rounds off and while he was in control, his right hand was noticeably bothering him and it led to him occasionally switching to southpaw. Not to fear though, as he went back to the body in the 10th round and hurt Santisima once more. The beating was sustained and Navarrete could sense a finish. He didn’t get it in the 10th, so he just upped the offense in the 11th and another left hook to the liver had Jeo bothered in a big way. Navarrete continued the onslaught until Russell Mora stepped in, and even if he didn’t step in, Santisima’s corner had thrown in the towel.
Official result: Emanuel Navarrete def. Jeo Santisima by TKO at 2:20 of round 11 to remain WBO junior featherweight champion
Watch highlights below:
Jeo Santisima sends the champ Emanuel Navarrete into the ropes. #NavarreteSantisima#WilderFury2 | Buy: https://t.co/auWEj0uOn9 pic.twitter.com/SExeDGmu9X
— FOX Sports: PBC (@PBConFOX) February 23, 2020
All is calm backstage for now in the respective locker rooms for @Tyson_Fury & @BronzeBomber, as @vaqueronavarre1 continues to go to work. Not long to go …
Order the #WilderFury ESPN+ PPV: https://t.co/88CHk2Ke0N pic.twitter.com/AUCKY6Kh5k
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) February 23, 2020
Emanuel Navarrete gets the stoppage in Round 11!
Stream #WilderFury2 on ESPN+ ?? https://t.co/g7eBxakezg pic.twitter.com/Pwir8vFT9T
— ESPN Ringside (@ESPNRingside) February 23, 2020
Navarrete has defended his title five times in 14 months since taking it from Isaac Dogboe in late 2018. He really is due for either a bigger fight (unification, included) at 122 lbs or a move up to 126 lbs, a division stacked with talent and intriguing matchups.