Santisima eyes 2nd straight win in Japan

TWO-TIME world title challenger Jeo Santisima is back in Japan gunning for his second straight win in the “Land of the Rising Sun.”

Santisima trades leathers with Toshiki Shimomachi in a 10-rounder on Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022 at the Edion Arena in Osaka.

The 26-year-old Santisima is coming off a fifth-round technical knockout of Hiroshige Osawa last August. He’s one of the few Filipinos who have won in Japan.

Shimomachi won six straight fights that include a win over countryman Jerry Castroverde. He hasn’t lost a fight since a split-decision defeat to Yusuke Hiranuma.

Santisima is currently rated No. 13 in the featherweight division by the World Boxing Organization (WBO).

Santisima is 22-4 with 19 knockouts, while the 26-year-old Shimomachi is 15-1 -2 with 11 knockouts.

Fighting in the same card is Jose Roda Jr.

He’ll be up against Takafumi Shibata in an eight-rounder.

Roda Jr. is 8-1-2 with a knockout, while Shibata is 3-1 with a knockout.

Two other Filipinos are also seeing action in a different event at the Edion Arena.

Ronnie Baldonado (15-3-1, 9 KOs) faces former world title contender Sho Ishida (31-3, 16 KOs) in an eight-round fight, while Clyde Azarcon (17-5-1, 6 KOs) locks horns with Yuga Ozaki (1-0, 1 KOs). (EKA)