Top Rank Boxing have confirmed the co-feature bout to the May 18 Emanuel Navarrete-Denys Berinchyk WBO lightweight title fight. Hometown hero Giovani Santillan (32-0, 17 KOs) will fight fellow unbeaten welterweight Brian Norman Jr. (25-0, 19 KOs) at Pechanga Arena, San Diego live on ESPN, with heavyweight KO specialist Richard Torrez Jr. opening the televised broadcast on ESPN+ for the Top Rank promoted card.
Giovani Santillan vs. Brian Norman Jr. Confirmed
Giovani Santillan and Brian Norman Jr. React
San Diego-born welterweight pugilist Santillan was waiting for an opponent to be confirmed for his homecoming bout and now that opponent has been named as Norman. The two will collide in a 12-round showdown as the co-feature to “Vaquero” vs. Berinchyk, who will be fighting for the vacant WBO lightweight title.
Santillan expressed his confidence regarding the upcoming bout: “Brian Norman Jr. is a highly skilled young fighter,” Santillan said. “I get so much motivation from my city, and fighting at Pechanga Arena is always special. May 18 will be a great night, and I can’t wait to give my fans another victory.”
Norman also spoke on the upcoming contest: “This is the big fight I have been waiting for. It’s time to show the world what I’m about.”
Careers Recapped
Santillan was last in action when he defeated Alexis Rocha by sixth-round KO last October to earn the WBO No. 1 ranking. The San Diego native has also notched notable wins against Angel Ruiz and Julio Luna. His opponent is a former U.S. amateur star who will be taking a step up in class with this bout.
He went 3-0 in 2023, including the biggest win of his career over Quinton Randall on the Shakur Stevenson-Edwin De Los Santos card in Las Vegas.
Rest of the Undercard
- Emiliano Vargas vs. vs. TBA, 6 rounds, Lightweights
- Alan Garcia vs. TBA, 8 rounds, Lightweights
- Art Barrera Jr. vs. TBA, 4 rounds, Super Lightweights
- Charlie Sheehy vs. Manuel Jaimes, 8 rounds, Lightweights
- Jonathan Lopez vs. Edgar Ortega, 8 rounds, Junior Lightweights
- Jonny Mansour vs. TBA, 4 rounds, Lightweights
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