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REPORT

Lights out: Santana KOs Mena for International crown[1]
Elliott Stern [email protected] | Santa Maria Times January 09, 2015 1:46 pm
Total devastation.
That was Francisco Santana’s goal when he stepped into the ring Friday night against Kendal Mena
at the Chumash Casino’s Samala Showroom in Santa Ynez.
Mission accomplished.
The Santa Barbara welterweight was looking to become the International welterweight champion at
ESPN’s Friday Night Fights. It took him just 1:43 to do it.
Mena, from the Dominican Republic, came into the fight unbeaten at 20-0 with 11 knockouts against
the hometown favorite at another sold out Gary Shaw production.
Mena was the aggressor early, pursuing Santana around the ring while Santana was content to feel
out his opponent. But when Santana found the range – it was quickly lights out.
“I had to test him out,” said Santana. “Once I realized he wasn’t as fast as I thought or as
strong as I thought, I knew I could finish him.”
Just over a minute into the fight, Santana landed a staggering left hook that sent Mena to the
canvas, knocking Mena’s mouthpiece across the ring – where it would remain for the rest of the 
fight. Mena got up and gamely pressed the attack when Santana found another opening and leveled
Mena with another devastating left hook – and he was gone. It was lights out as Mena hit the deck.
Referee Jack Reiss immediately stopped the fight, not even beginning the 10-count as he stood over
the motionless Mena. “I wanted to make a statement,” said Santana. “I am ready for any Top Ten
fighter in the world. This was my first step in showing everyone I’m ready for it.”
Santana improves his record to 22-3-1 with 10 KOs.
The other co-main event went the distance with Darleys Perez (32-1-0, 20 KO) keeping his WBA
interim lightweight title with a 12-round decision over Jonathan Maicelo.
The Central Coast was perfect on the night when Santa Maria’s Maggie Suarez (9-1-1) had a
unanimous decision over San Diego’s Jolene Blackshear (9-6) and Santa Maria’s Manuel Romero (1-2-2)
scoring a first round TKO over Carlos Gonzalez (1-6) for his first professional victory.
In other action,  Palmdale’s Paula Estrada (1-1-0) won her first professional fight with a majority
decision over L.A.’s Kayana Rain, who was making her pro debut; Jarrell Miller (11-0-1) won a
unanimous decision over Aaron Kinch (5-4-2) in a six round heavyweight bout; and Roman Morales
(19-0-0) stayed perfect when he knocked out Ernesto Guerrero (15-15-0) at 1:05 of the third round
in a planned eight round featherweight fight. This was the second time Suarez faced Blackshear and
the Santa Maria boxer knew what to expect. Blackshear pursued Suarez relentlessly. Suarez kept
moving in, firing combinations then moving back to set up for her next attack.
“I knew she would be tough. I knew she was going to come at me,” said Suarez. “I fought he once
before so I knew she’d come straight at me and keep coming. I had to fight a smart fight.”
But there was no quit in Blackshear. Even as her face got red and swollen from Suarez’s constant
attack, Blackshear kept moving in – trying for the one elusive kill shot that she could never find.
“I got hit more times than I wanted to,” said Suarez. “But I knew if I moved in, hit her hard with
combinations, that I could beat her again.” “I think she fought a very tough opponent,” said Santa
Maria Boxing Club president Willie Flores, Suarez’s manager. “Maggie has really elevated her game.
I think she’s going to get a world title shot this year and we’re going to win it.”
In the night’s second Championship at the Chumash battle, two near-perfect pros went toe-to-toe for
12 rounds. Perez, the interim champion, came in with a 31-1-0 record. Challenger Maicelo had a
21-1-0 record on his resume. The lightweights traded shot for the better part of the first five
rounds with Perez scoring more often with his jab. Perez was jabbing his way to the win as
Maicelo’s face got redder and puffier as the bout wore on. Perez started scoring with more solid
shots – mostly left hooks – combined with a constant rat-a-tat of jab after jab to seize the
momentum for good in the seventh round. Maicelo got in a few solid shots in every round, but he
just didn’t score often enough to sway the judges.

Perez, Santana Post Wins On Final Gary Shaw Promotion [2] 
By Gary Shaw Productions; January 12th, 2015 All Press Releases Saddo Boxing
Friday night at the Chumash Casino in Santa Ynez, California, Gary Shaw Productions presented his 
final show as a promotional company on ESPN "Friday Night Fights".
In the 12-round main event, Darleys Perez (32-1, 20 KOs) won an impressive unanimous decision as he
defended his WBA Interim Lightweight Championship against Jonathan Maicelo (21-2, 12 KOs). Perez vs.
Maicelo was a promoted in association with Thompson Boxing Promotions.
In the early rounds, Jonathan Maicelo was using lateral movement to set up his punches, but Darleys
Perez was timing him every time he jumped in. Maicelo, to his detriment, was going straight back
after every combination and Perez was making him pay for that mistake.
As the fight entered the later rounds, Perez had control of the fight and was up on the scorecards.
Perez was timing his punches well and landed some very clean shots that had Maicelo off balance.
Perez caught Maicelo jumping in and sent him to the canvas in round eleven. In round twelve, Perez
closed the show as he landed a plethora of hard shots to close out the round. Maicelo gave a gallant
effort in defeat. Scorecards read 118-109, 118-108, 120-107, all in favor of Perez.
"I was prepared for a tough fight," said Perez. "Maicelo is an incredible competitor. It took me a
few rounds to settle into a rhythm, but once I did, I was able to land whatever I wanted.
"After a few rounds, I was able to time his movements and connect with a variety of punches. I want
to be the best in the lightweight division. That's what drives me. I put my heart and soul into every
fight and I'm going to keep preparing the same way." "I did my best tonight but was up against a
better man in Darleys Perez." said Maicelo. "He did a good job of using his reach to keep me off
balance. It was very difficult to land my shots. "He's a great champion and I take my hat off to him.
I still want to fight and see if I can work my way back to the top. This is not the end of my career.
I know I can get back in there and compete at a high level."
In the 10-round co-main event, Santa Barbara's welterweight contender, Francisco Santana (22-3-1, 11
KOs) didn't need much time to finish off his opponent, Kendal Mena (20-0, 11 KOs) of the Dominican
Republic. While the taller Mena was trying to establish his distance and jab, Santana, the local hero,
landed a left hook that dropped him in the begging of the round. As soon as Mena got up off the
canvas, Santana landed a right hook, left hook combo that put Mena down for good at the 1:43 mark of
round one. With the victory, Santana captures the WBA International Welterweight Championship.
"My trainer had a great game plan going into this fight," said Francisco Santana. "Once I saw an
opening in his defense I knew I could land my left hook. This was great exposure for me and I'm very
please I was able to get the knockout on national television. "I want to thank Gary Shaw for this
opportunity and I look forward to the future with him moving forward with RocNation. I'm ready to
challenge any of the top welterweights in the division."
"Tonight everyone showed up and gave it their best and the fans go to witness a great night of boxing."
said Gary Shaw. "Perez is a very tough fighter and I see him taking over the lightweight division.
"Santana showed he has what it takes to be something special in the welterweight division and he'll be
in a very big fight in the near future. I'm ready to start the next chapter of my legacy with RocNation
and I'm very energized with what the future holds for all my fighters."
San Andro, California's undefeated Super-Bantamweight prospect, Roman Morales, extended his winning
streak with an impressive third round knockout. After a slow start, Morales landed a left hook to the
body in round three dropping Guerrero to the canvas. The referee gave Guerrero the full 10 count and the
bout was stopped at the 1:05 mark of the round.
Brooklyn New York's Jarrell Miller battered Newark, New Jersey's Aaron Kinch over six rounds en route to
a lopsided unanimous decision at heavyweight. Even though Miller landed a plethora of power shots
throughout the fight, Kinch survived, making it to the final bell giving the fans a spirited effort.
Scorecards read 60-54 twice and 60-53 in favor of Miller.
Santa Maria, California's Maggie Suarez won a close majority decision against a very tough Jolene
Blackshear at flyweight. Suarez used her superior boxing skills to squeak out the victory. Jolene had
her moments but it wasn't enough as Suarez landed at a higher percentage in most of the rounds.
Scorecards read 57-57, 58-56 for Saurez.
Santa Maria, California's Manuel Romero made quick work of Carlos Gonzales at welterweight. Round one
was all Romero as he came out guns blazing. In round two, Romero landed a barrage of punches and the
referee halted the bout at the 2:16 mark.
Palmdale, California's Poula Estrada did enough to pull off a close victory against a game Kayana Rain,
who hails from Los Angeles, at junior flyweight. The taller Estrada used a good jab and movement to
negate the pressure style of Rain. Although Rain landed some good power shots, Estrada landed the
cleaner blows throughout the fight. Scorecards read 38-38, 39-37, all for Estrada.