Show:641256

PROMO

Santiago Headlines 'Thursday Throwdown'
MAX Boxing April 2, 2012 [1]

REPORT

Throwdown Thursday puts on a great night of boxing
by Albert Alvarez; Front Row.com April 12, 2012 [2]
I arrive at the Shrine Auditorium along with my brother and it’s my first fight covering a fight at this venue, and 
I must say that I really like this venue a lot. It’s perfect size and it’s nice and cozy, has a warm feel to it. I 
look forward to covering more bouts here in the future. Ok now let’s get on to the action. Throwdown Thursday starts 
off with an explosion as 130 pounders, Jose Marrufo and John Moraga came out guns blazing. Both Marrufo and Moraga 
came in with the plan to simply just try to out punch one another. The jab, the most important punch of all was 
abandoned and because of that, the fight became much harder than it had to be for both fighters. Marrufo wins 39-37 
on all 3 cards. If these two warriors ever get it on again, I must be there for that, both fighters put on a great 
opening fight.

Next up is 175 pounders, Estevan Payan against Isiah McFadden, at this point I’m really hyped as McFadden comes out 
to Biggie Smalls blasting out the speakers. The first round is a close round and may have gone to Payan, but then 
the second round began and McFadden closed in and blasted Payan with a vicious right and turned off the lights on him. 
McFadden wins by 2 nd round k.o. and improves to 5-2-0.

Lanell Bellows then was up next as he ended things fast by stopping Kevin Riding-in in the first round with a dagger 
of a shot. The 168 pound Bellows who fights out of Las Vegas is now 2-0 with both victories for him coming right here 
in the valley of the sun. By the way, there is no truth to the rumor that Kevin came in riding in on a horse.

140 pounders, Jorge Marquez and Tito Jones enter the ring, Jones is making his pro debut tonight. Marquez who hadn’t 
fought in over 2 years due to various constraints, stepped in and spoiled Jones’s debut by stopping Jones in 2 rounds. 
In the first round, an accidental headbutt seemed to have cut Jones pretty bad at the top of his head. Something tells 
me that the cut wouldn’t have mattered anyway. Jorge Marquez is a monster and I can not wait to see him fight again.

Anthony Fraguada vs. Fernando Samaniego roll in next and at first sight it looks as if Samaniego is going to walk 
right through Fraguada, but never must one judge a book by the cover. Fraguada conects plenty with a left that hurts 
and drops Samaniego in the first round. Samaniego is a tough kid but he has got to keep his guard up if he plans on 
standing in front of an opponent with a itching punch. Samaniego recovers and hurts Fraguada with a killer body shot. 
122 pounder Samaniego wins by 2nd round knock out. 

El Gallo Negro, Javier Loya and Gabe Garcia come out on fire with hatred in their eyes and exchange grenades at one 
another. These guys are fighting each other as if they both stole money from one another and both seem pretty ticked 
off about it. First round is even, second round goes to Loya on aggresion, and in the third round, Loya launched an 
over hand right that smashed Garcia in a very scary manner. The knock out scared me a bit when I saw Garcia slam to 
the canvas like a sack of potatoes. The 140 pound Loya wins by 3rd round k.o.

The main event is now upon us, and 122 pounders Alexis ”Beaver” Santiago and Luis Angel Paneto go at it with Beaver 
looking super sharp working behind the jab. Beaver mixed it up in there by landing a few body shots that forced 
Paneto to retreat. At ringside, one could hear Lanell Bellows shout out instructions to Beaver by telling him to walk 
the dog. The first time that I heard those instructions, my brother Sam, my homie Jenni Ro, and I were left scratching 
our heads guessing on what the term ”walking the dog” could possibly mean. It wasn’t until the second round that I 
understood the meaning. You see, when you walk the dog, it may appear that the dog is leading the way, but in reality 
it is you that has your hand on the leash, so you are the one guiding the dog on where you want the dog to go. Beaver 
was doing just that, Beaver was walking Paneto into right hands as he broke him down. After the 2nd round, Paneto does 
not come out for the next round, claiming that he had nose issues that did not allow him to breathe properly. Satiago 
improves to 11-2-1.

Throwdown Thursday was a blast. It was another great night of boxing and a job well done by Alma Canez  in association 
with Estrella Promotions. When you see Alma on the streets, be sure to thank her. Very well done. Now it’s on to Iron 
Boy Promotions as they bring us more boxing on Night of Legends 2 on Saturday, April 21st at 7 p.m. at the Celebrity 
Theatre. I ran into Abel Ramos and Thomas Valdez at the fights and they both advised me that they are both ready to 
put on a great show for us all. Then it will be road trip time as Face II Face Events will bring us Noche De Boxeo on 
May 4th in Tucson. So I am very much loving the fact that our local promoters seem to all be on a mission to keep 
boxing here. Much respect to all the fighters that fought their heart out tonight. Until the next time my friends, 
stay thirsty.