LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – FEBRUARY 22: Referee Russell Mora looks on as Jeo Santisima is knocked down during his bout for Navarrete’s WBO junior featherweight title against Emanuel Navarrete on February 22, 2020 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Al Bello/Getty Images/AFP
Emanuel Navarrete dominated Jeo Santisima on the way to an 11th-round technical knockout Sunday (Manila time) to retain his World Boxing Organization super bantamweight world title.
Mexico’s Navarrete made his fifth defense of the crown in convincing style against the Filipino challenger, who was a heavy underdog fighting for a world title for the first time.
After a conservative start, Navarrete began to ramp up the pressure in the third round.
Santisima managed to back Navarrete into a corner in the fourth, but the champion unloaded on him in a big fifth round, rocking Santisima with a left hook.
Navarrete had Santisima in trouble again in the 10th and finally finished him the 11th with a series of unanswered blows that prompted referee Russell Mora to wave it off at 2:20 of the round.
The champion’s impressive finish came despite an apparent problem with his right hand.
“I hit him weirdly with my right and I hurt my thumb,” said Navarrete, who switched to a southpaw stance a few times late in the fight. “But I had to plough through it and get the win tonight.
Navarrete improved to 31-1 with 27 wins inside the distance. Santisima fell to 19-3 with 16 knockouts.
The fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena was on the undercard of the heavyweight world title rematch between Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury.