Mario Santiago
Encyclopedia
Mario Santiago Figueroa (born July 13, 1978) is a Puerto Rican
professional boxer. Santiago debuted as a professional in 2000, and is the current World Boxing Council Caribbean Featherweight Champion.
, he loves Salsa music and spending time with his family.
Mario did not enter an amateur tournament until he was 15 yrs old. His first fight was for the Puerto Rico Southern Region Amateur Title which he won. He caught the eye of the Puerto Rico National Team Trainers and seven fights later he was fighting abroad with the National team at the age of 16.
Mario went on to represent Puerto Rico in many amateur Tournaments including the 1999 Pan-Am games in Canada where he lost a close decision for the Bronze Medal. Mario competed on the 2000 Olympic Trials but did not qualify and opted to turn pro in 2000. Mario finished his amateur career with an impressive 52-3 record.
, Nelson Dieppa
, Alex Sanchez
, and title contenders Fres Oquendo
, Carlos Quintana
and Daniel Seda. Mario was signed by Don King Productions until Felix Trinidad retired in 2002. He was released and was left with no management. During this time Mario moved to Pennsylvania to look for a second opportunity in boxing, there he trained with Barry Strumph and Syd Brumbach, in 2004 he signed with Gary Shaw Productions where his career blossomed fighting 7 times in 2004.
In 2005 Hector Santiago and Evangelista Cotto, uncle and trainer of World Champion Miguel Cotto, obtained Mario’s management rights, Mario went back to his Amateur trainer Jose “Pancha” Aneiro and was back in the ring on October 8, 2005 scoring a 3rd round KO and 2 weeks later he was the Shobox co-feature bout against the IBF #15 ranked featherweight contender Cornelius “Master” Lock at the Chumash Casino in California. This was Mario’s most important fight of his career and one that got him recognition with the media and the fans. Since his 2005 comeback Mario has defeated his last 7 opponents by Knockout. Santiago's next scheduled match was against Daniel Attah in a fight that took place on March 10, 2007 in Ponce. Santiago won the fight by technical knockout in the ninth round. Santiago lost his first fight on July 28, 2007, in a fight against Héctor Velázquez. He remained inactive until February 1, 2008, when he was scheduled to fight Edel Ruiz whom he defeated by knockout in the first round.
Steven Luevano
's victory against Antonio Davis
and Terdsak Jandaeng was tested in his 3rd defense on June 28, 2008 night's David Diaz-Manny Pacquiao
undercard at Mandalay Bay Events Center. Luevano retained his 126-pound belt via split draw with Mario Santiago. Judge Harry Davis scored it 117-111 for Luevano, Duane Ford had it 115-113 for Santiago and Dave Moretti had it 114-114. ESPN.com also had it 114-114. Luevano landed 215 of 641 punches (34%) while Santiago connected on 214 of 835 (26%).
Puerto Rican people
A Puerto Rican is a person who was born in Puerto Rico.Puerto Ricans born and raised in the continental United States are also sometimes referred to as Puerto Ricans, although they were not born in Puerto Rico...
professional boxer. Santiago debuted as a professional in 2000, and is the current World Boxing Council Caribbean Featherweight Champion.
Personal information
Mario is married to Caroline Santiago and has two daughters Carimar who is eight years old and Yarieli who is four years old. Mario works at the local Walmart in Ponce, in his spare time Mario spends his time at the Church where he is part of the church band playing the timbalesTimbales
Timbales are shallow single-headed drums with metal casing, invented in Cuba. They are shallower in shape than single-headed tom-toms, and usually much higher tuned...
, he loves Salsa music and spending time with his family.
Amateur career
Began boxing when he was seven years old, in his hometown of Ponce, Puerto Rico. He was trained by his late uncle Edwin and his father Mario Santiago Sr. who were both boxers.Mario did not enter an amateur tournament until he was 15 yrs old. His first fight was for the Puerto Rico Southern Region Amateur Title which he won. He caught the eye of the Puerto Rico National Team Trainers and seven fights later he was fighting abroad with the National team at the age of 16.
Mario went on to represent Puerto Rico in many amateur Tournaments including the 1999 Pan-Am games in Canada where he lost a close decision for the Bronze Medal. Mario competed on the 2000 Olympic Trials but did not qualify and opted to turn pro in 2000. Mario finished his amateur career with an impressive 52-3 record.
Professional career
Santiago debuted as a professional in 2000 under the direction of Felix Trinidad Sr. and Cesar Seda. He was part of the Trinidad Stable which at the time included former World Champions Félix TrinidadFélix Trinidad
Félix 'Tito' Trinidad, Jr. is a Puerto Rican professional boxer, considered one of the best in Puerto Rico's history. After winning five National Amateur Championships in Puerto Rico, he debuted as a professional when he was 17. He won his first world championship when he defeated Maurice Blocker...
, Nelson Dieppa
Nelson Dieppa
Nelson Dieppa is a Puerto Rican professional boxer. As an amateur, he represented Puerto Rico in international events including the 1991 World Amateur Boxing Championships, 1991 Pan American Games and the 1992 Summer Olympics. Dieppa debuted as a professional on February 13, 1993, when he defeated...
, Alex Sanchez
Alex Sánchez (boxer)
Alex "El Nene" Sánchez is a retired Puerto Rican professional boxer.-Boxing career:Sánchez began his professional boxing career on October 4, 1991, knocking out Carlos Figueroa in round one at Mayagüez, Puerto Rico....
, and title contenders Fres Oquendo
Fres Oquendo
Fres Oquendo was born April 1, 1973 in Puerto Rico, and is a professional heavyweight boxer.He had a successful amateur background.-Amateur career:He had an amateur record of 105-51990 178 lb. Springfield Golden Gloves Champion1992 178 lb...
, Carlos Quintana
Carlos Quintana (boxer)
Carlos Quintana is a Puerto Rican professional boxer. As an amateur Quintana represented Puerto Rico. He debuted as a professional in 1997. On February 24, 2006, he participated in his first professional championship fight, defeating Raul Bejerano for the World Boxing Organization's Latino...
and Daniel Seda. Mario was signed by Don King Productions until Felix Trinidad retired in 2002. He was released and was left with no management. During this time Mario moved to Pennsylvania to look for a second opportunity in boxing, there he trained with Barry Strumph and Syd Brumbach, in 2004 he signed with Gary Shaw Productions where his career blossomed fighting 7 times in 2004.
In 2005 Hector Santiago and Evangelista Cotto, uncle and trainer of World Champion Miguel Cotto, obtained Mario’s management rights, Mario went back to his Amateur trainer Jose “Pancha” Aneiro and was back in the ring on October 8, 2005 scoring a 3rd round KO and 2 weeks later he was the Shobox co-feature bout against the IBF #15 ranked featherweight contender Cornelius “Master” Lock at the Chumash Casino in California. This was Mario’s most important fight of his career and one that got him recognition with the media and the fans. Since his 2005 comeback Mario has defeated his last 7 opponents by Knockout. Santiago's next scheduled match was against Daniel Attah in a fight that took place on March 10, 2007 in Ponce. Santiago won the fight by technical knockout in the ninth round. Santiago lost his first fight on July 28, 2007, in a fight against Héctor Velázquez. He remained inactive until February 1, 2008, when he was scheduled to fight Edel Ruiz whom he defeated by knockout in the first round.
Steven Luevano
Steven Luevano
Steven Luevano was a Mexican-American boxer in the Featherweight division and is the former WBO Featherweight Champion. He was trained by the former IBF Super Featherweight Champion Roberto Garcia....
's victory against Antonio Davis
Antonio Davis
Antonio Lee Davis is a retired American National Basketball Association player. Davis is also the former president of the NBA Players Association .-College career:...
and Terdsak Jandaeng was tested in his 3rd defense on June 28, 2008 night's David Diaz-Manny Pacquiao
Manny Pacquiao
Emmanuel "Manny" Dapidran Pacquiao, PLH is a Filipino professional boxer and politician. He is the first eight-division world champion; having won six world titles, as well as the first to win the lineal championship in four different weight classes. He was named "Fighter of the Decade" for the...
undercard at Mandalay Bay Events Center. Luevano retained his 126-pound belt via split draw with Mario Santiago. Judge Harry Davis scored it 117-111 for Luevano, Duane Ford had it 115-113 for Santiago and Dave Moretti had it 114-114. ESPN.com also had it 114-114. Luevano landed 215 of 641 punches (34%) while Santiago connected on 214 of 835 (26%).