Yan Carlos Santana scores stoppage against Ernesto Franzolini in Puerto Rico
Another fight, another knockout win for featherweight prospect Yan Carlos Santana.
The unbeaten Santana battered Ernesto Franzolini, earning a knockout win in round three late Friday night at the Coliseito Pedrin Zorrilla in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Santana, who resides in San Juan, Puerto Rico, improved to 10-0, 10 knockouts.
The 23-year-old Santana was the aggressor and initiated exchanges from the opening round. Santana threw and connected with two and three-punch combinations, landing multiple hooks, crosses, and uppercuts to the head of Franzolini.
During the third round, Santana connected with a series of uppercuts. Moments later, a short right cross to the head dropped Franzolini flat on his back. Franzolini did get up at the count of nine, but the fight was waved off. Franzolini protested the stoppage.
Yan Carlos Santana (left) Photo by Victor Planas/Miguel Cotto Promotions, LLC
Franzolini, who resides in Pinamar, Buenos Aires, Argentina, falls to 18-14-2, 1 KO.
In his previous bout on August 26, also in San Juan, Santana stopped Jostin Ortiz in the opening round of a clash between unbeaten fighters. On July 12, Santana stopped Jose Benitez Ojeda in the second round. Benitez Ojeda came into the fight with a record of 1-0.
Santana is promoted by Miguel Cotto Promotions, which promoted the Boxeo al Maximo Internacional card. Bryan Perez, who is the vicepresident of Operations for the promotional company based in Puerto Rico, has high hopes for Santana and what the future holds.
“Yan Carlos Santana is a complete fighter,” Perez told The Ring late Friday night. “His intelligence in the ring makes him special. We are in the presence of the future of Dominican and Latin American boxing. Without a doubt, he has the tools to dominate the featherweight division.”
In the co-feature, Jose Aguirre of Arecibo, Puerto Rico knocked out Argentina’s Lucas Mignoni in the opening round.
Aguirre, a fringe junior lightweight contender, improved to 20-0, 13 KOs.
Mignoni (14-6, 4 KOa) has now lost his last three fights after winning his previous three.
Francisco A. Salazar has written for The Ring since October 2013 and has covered boxing in Southern California and abroad since 2000. Francisco also covers boxing for the Ventura County (California) Star newspaper. He can be reached at [email protected]
