SANTA YNEZ, Calif. (Dec. 1, 2006) – Although Mario Santiago hails from Puerto Rico, the Golden State and “ShoBox” are fast becoming the undefeated fighter’s homes away from home. For the third time in his last five fights, the 28 year old recorded a knockout in California on America’s No. 1 boxing network by stopping Salvador Garcia in the seventh round Friday on “ShoBox: The New Generation.”
In the junior welterweight co-feature from the Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, Calif., Timothy Bradley remained undefeated by scoring an eighth-round unanimous technical decision over Jaime Rangel. SHOWTIME televised the Gary Shaw Productions, LLC, doubleheader.
Santiago (17-0, 12 KOs), of Ponce, Puerto Rico, ran his knockout streak to six when Garcia’s corner threw in the towel in the middle of the seventh round. Referee Jon Schorle stopped the one-sided contest at 1:51. The pride of Ponce was too quick and powerful in his fifth Chumash and third “ShoBox” appearances. From the outset, Santiago set up the left to Garcia’s head with a dominant right jab.
“I knew I was going to be strong because I trained as if this was a 12-round fight,” Santiago said. “I felt really good. I was in amazing shape. I thought Garcia was going to box.”
“ShoBox” expert analyst Steve Farhood commented that Santiago was the bigger and faster fighter.
“Each time on ‘ShoBox,’ Santiago shows us something a little different,” Farhood said. “Tonight, it was his exceptional movement.”
Garcia (14-4-2, 1 ND, seven KOs), of Whittier, Calif., saw his five-bout unbeaten streak (4-0-1) come to a crashing end. Despite being the underdog in his three previous contests against rising fighters, he recorded two impressive upset wins against Puerto Rican prospects. However, he could not solve Santiago’s blazing hand speed and powerful shots.
Bradley (17-0, 10 KOs), of Palm Springs, Calif., was awarded the victory after judge Raul Caiz stopped the action-packed affair at 1:54 of the eighth round. An accidental clash of heads opened a deep cut over Rangel’s right eye and Caiz determined that the fighter could not continue. After the eighth was scored, each of the three judges saw it 79-73 for Bradley.
Despite being 12 years younger than his opponent, Bradley proved that youth and power were more valuable than experience. However, he admitted afterward that he learned a lot from his national television debut.
“I need to slow down a little bit and work behind the jab,” Bradley said. “I get fired up. I want to get in there and knock my opponent’s
head off. Rangel stunned me once, but I had control the whole time.”
Rangel (30-10-1 26 KOs), of Cordoba, Colombia, held his own and enjoyed his finest moment in the third round when he landed a left cross to Bradley’s head. “The Desert Storm” stumbled across the ring, but quickly regained his senses. Rangel, a former world title challenger, lost for the sixth consecutive time.
Farhood saw the Bradley-Rangel bout quite differently than the judges.
“I thought it was a very close fight,” Farhood said. “Rangel’s awkwardness offset Bradley’s orthodox style. Bradley looked tight and could not decide what range was best for him.”
Nick Charles called the action from ringside with boxing historian Farhood serving as expert analyst. The executive producer of “ShoBox” is Gordon Hall with Richard Gaughan producing.
The bouts will re-air this week as follows:
DAY CHANNEL
Saturday, Dec. 2, at Midnight ET/PT SHOTOO
Monday, Dec. 4, at 10 p.m. ET/PT SHO EXTREME
Tuesday, Dec. 5, at Midnight ET/PT SHO EXTREME
Thursday, Dec. 7, at 11 p.m. ET/PT SHOTOO
For more information on “ShoBox: The New Generation” and SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecasts, including complete fighter bios, records, related stories and more, please go the SHOWTIME website at http://www.sho.com/boxing.