Juan Carlos Payano to Fight Alexis Santiago on PBC on FS1 Card Aug. 22
Premier Boxing Champions announced Tuesday afternoon that Juan
Carlos Payano will take on Alexis Santiago in the main event of a
PBC on FS1 card Aug. 22. The 10-round bantamweight bout will take
place at Sam’s Town Live in Las Vegas, with the action broadcast on
the cable sports network beginning at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.
The Payano-Santiago bout was bumped up to the headliner slot when the original main event between Mickey Bey and Anthony Peterson was scrapped when Bey was injured in training.
Payano (18-1, 9 KOs) captured the WBA bantamweight title with a
technical decision win over Anselmo Moreno in September 2014 and
defended it once against former U.S. Olympian Rau’shee Warren the
following August. However, the Dominican lost his crown to Warren
in the rematch 10 months later. He has since knocked out Isao
Gonzalo Carranza in January and is amped to get back inside the
squared circle.
“I am excited to be back in the ring and on the way back to the top,” said Payano. “I don't plan to allow anything to derail me from being champion again. I'm ready to put on a great performance and get the big fights that I want. I'm looking forward to once again reigning supreme in this division.”
Santiago, from Phoenix, has won a couple of regional titles and has beaten some solid opposition thus far. However, he hasn’t yet taken on someone the caliber of Payano, a two-time Olympian, and is coming off a decision loss to Jose Cayetano last September. Still, “Beaver” says he feels better than ever and is ready to score the upset over Payano.
“I've been staying steady with training camp and everything has been really smooth,” said Santiago (21-4-1, 8 KOs). “After my last fight I took a few months off to let my body heal and I feel much better going into this fight. My opponent is tough and aggressive. He's a former world champion but I feel that I have what it takes to win.”
A 10-round lightweight battle between Jamel Herring (16-1, 9 KOs) and Ladarius Miller (13-1, 4 KOs) is slated for the televised portion of the card as well.
The Payano-Santiago bout was bumped up to the headliner slot when the original main event between Mickey Bey and Anthony Peterson was scrapped when Bey was injured in training.
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“I am excited to be back in the ring and on the way back to the top,” said Payano. “I don't plan to allow anything to derail me from being champion again. I'm ready to put on a great performance and get the big fights that I want. I'm looking forward to once again reigning supreme in this division.”
Santiago, from Phoenix, has won a couple of regional titles and has beaten some solid opposition thus far. However, he hasn’t yet taken on someone the caliber of Payano, a two-time Olympian, and is coming off a decision loss to Jose Cayetano last September. Still, “Beaver” says he feels better than ever and is ready to score the upset over Payano.
“I've been staying steady with training camp and everything has been really smooth,” said Santiago (21-4-1, 8 KOs). “After my last fight I took a few months off to let my body heal and I feel much better going into this fight. My opponent is tough and aggressive. He's a former world champion but I feel that I have what it takes to win.”
A 10-round lightweight battle between Jamel Herring (16-1, 9 KOs) and Ladarius Miller (13-1, 4 KOs) is slated for the televised portion of the card as well.
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