The IBO Inter-Continental super bantamweight title was on the line last night at the Fabrizio De Chiara Sports Hall in Cologno Monzese, near Milan, where defending champion Alessio Lorusso faced Mexican challenger Alexandro Santiago. Lorusso emerged victorious thanks to a performance marked by outstanding tactical intelligence and authority. Over the course of the scheduled ten rounds, the Italian controlled the fight with remarkable confidence, nullifying all of his opponent’s best weapons. The unanimous decision victory (96-93, 95-94, 98-91) merely confirmed what had unfolded inside the ring.
Santiago (30-6-5, 16 KOs), a 30-year-old boxer schooled in the pure Mexican style, is a fighter who tends to be firmly planted on his feet, constantly seeking close range from where he launches short combinations of loaded punches. For Lorusso (33-5-2, 10 KOs), it was a stylistically favorable matchup but also an internationally significant challenge: the Mexican had previously defeated former champion Nonito Donaire, albeit well past his prime, and had shared the ring with the outstanding Junto Nakatani, who stopped him in the sixth round.
At the opening bell, Santiago immediately took center ring. Fighting out of an orthodox stance, he began pressing forward in search of close quarters. Lorusso, enjoying a significant height and reach advantage, worked from his southpaw stance to keep his opponent at a safe distance. His right jab proved highly effective and was often followed by a straight left hand that repeatedly found the target.
Santiago attacked in brief bursts, but he paid a price every time he tried to close the distance, running into Lorusso’s well-timed countering fire.
Comfortable moving around the ring, the Italian looked confident from the outset, energized by the support of the home crowd. He worked well behind the jab and, despite his longer limbs, his punches appeared faster and more explosive than those of his opponent.
By the halfway point, Lorusso was in complete control of the contest, although Santiago remained a dangerous opponent.
Lorusso’s jab and straight left kept the Mexican on alert and prevented him from charging forward recklessly. In the sixth round, however, a moment of overconfidence by the Italian allowed Santiago to land a long two-handed combination at close range, though the attack did not appear to leave any lasting effects.
Santiago struggled to find the correct distance and was never quick enough to catch his opponent by surprise. Lorusso made perfect use of his reach advantage, while his footwork made it difficult for the Mexican to land consistently.
In the eighth round, aided by a brief dip in Lorusso’s pace, Santiago began enjoying greater success, repeatedly landing his jab and right hook while finding it easier to close the distance. Yet just as he was having his best spell of the fight, the Mexican was caught by a straight body shot from Lorusso that knocked him off balance and sent him to the canvas, helped in part by his awkward footing.
After taking the count, Santiago quickly got back to his feet and resumed pressing the action with renewed intensity. But Lorusso, invigorated by the knockdown, regained control of the fight. He showcased an excellent lead left hook and eventually forced his opponent backward, the Mexican being overpowered by the Italian’s physical strength.
A late two-fisted assault at the end of the ninth round further demonstrated the confidence and outstanding physical and mental condition with which Lorusso conducted the fight. Entering the tenth and final round, the Italian once again seized the initiative, first catching Santiago with a left hand and then driving him backward on a wave of enthusiasm.
When the final bell rang, Lorusso raised his arms, fully aware that he had handled a dangerous opponent with authority and without the slightest fear. It was a clear and indisputable victory, duly confirmed by the judges’ unanimous decision.
Now the challenge for Lorusso is to raise the level of opposition even further, knowing that he possesses the qualities necessary to pursue even more prestigious goals.