Nice interview. He's 14-0 with 11 KO and he was only had 3 defeats as an amateur back in Cuba. He has a very fan friendly style too. http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/sp...talks-about-defecting-fame-and-his-big-fight/ This content is protected Angelo The Cobra Santana [14-0 11 KO] was a two time Cuban national champion with only three defeats in an amateur career that spanned over 180 bouts. After defecting in 2007, the now 24 year old was quickly signed up by renowned promoter Don King. Last night the highly touted lightweight faced off against Juan Garcia [13-1 8 KO] as the headliner on Showtimes ShoBox: The Next Generation where he scored a spectacular a Knockout of the Year contender against his previously undefeated opponent. Before his bout, he took time with to speak to Fox News Latino. Angelo how has training camp gone for you in preparation for this fight? Santana: The camp has been a very hard camp with some good boxing and very good sparring. Im ready to leave everything in the ring come Friday night. Im dont really care about my opponent, its about how I like in the ring. When I get in the ring I will try to take him [Garcia] out. Do You take inspiration from fellow esteemed Cuban fighters who have defected such as Yuriorkis Gamboa and Guillermo Rigondeaux and how they have excelled? Santana: Oh yes. Thats where I get the most inspiration. They pretty much train in our gyms and we are all very close together. We are all in touch, [Guillermo] Rigondeaux right now is training in my gym with his trainer. This is your first headline slot on a major cable outlet, on Showtime. Is this an important platform for you to show fans what you have? Santana: Im so highly motivated because of the viewers on TV being able to see me. I can show them what I have and Im fighting somebody who I said I would fight in the first place. You came to America on a homemade raft in 2007 that carried 27 fellow Cubans to pursue boxing, does everything else in your career seem easy compared to that experience? Santana: To tell you the truth I came to US because my sweetheart had moved. She is sat next to me right now in the hotel room. So I did not even move for boxing reasons. But everything is hard in life. Everything, thats why I have to keep working to achieve what I want in the sport. You have already fought in Madison Square Garden, which you have mentioned was a dream come true, what other aspirations do you have left? Santana: Yes. Fighting in New York was a dream come true. But I really want to become a champion. Thats the first and most important goal for me. After that I want to concentrate on getting better and fighting the best out there, be it at 130 or 135 pounds, guys like [Antonio] DeMarco or Broner, but I will fight whoever Don [King] puts in front of me. Would you ever consider fighting Yuriorkis Gamboa if both of your careers keep moving in such upward trajectories and you were at the same weight? Santana: I will say this. Ive never really given it any thought because were the best of friends, but boxing is a business so if the money was right and Don [King] and Bob Arum [Gamboas promoter] were able to come to an agreement, then of course. Anything is possible. People often level the criticism at Cuban boxers who turn pro that their style is safety first and does not excite fans. Is this something youd like to challenge? Santana: The switch from amateur to pro has been very easy. In amateur you wear headgear and move and punch all the time. In the pros you have to sit down and throw your punches harder with bad intentions. But on the whole its not something that has been a problem. His last fight from 1:20 to 4:42 [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tx46ZpkmEYo[/ame]
I've been watching this kid for a while, He's got a very fan friendly style, aggressive with power. If he gets moved properly and not too fast, I can see him picking up a belt.
Thanks. He's been on my watch list since the Garcia fight, he looked good. Shame he's with King hopefully it doesn't slow his progress too much.
I was getting ready to call his KO of Garcia as "Knock out of the Year" until Marquez did his thing to Pac.