PH boxers Santisima, Plania to return to US before year ends

Jeo Santisima hopes to reboot his career while Melvin Jerusalem and Esneth Domingo try to sustain their rise when they hook up with JC Manangquil’s Sanman Promotions.

Left without a home following the abrupt closure of Cebu’s ALA Boxing, the 3 prospects signed up with the General Santos City-based outfit instead of foreign-based promoters.

Santisima – who got stopped by World Boxing Organization super bantamweight champion Mexican Emanuel Navarrete in the 11th round in February – Jerusalem, and Domingo will stay in Cebu where they will continue to train under Michael Domingo.

Manangquil said he intends to send Santisima (19-3, 16 knockouts) and prized ward Mike Plania (24-1, 12 KOs) back to the United States either in November or December because it is easier to secure fights there for boxers who no longer need to fly into the country.

Plania stunned touted American Joshua Greer Jr in a super bantamweight encounter in June in Las Vegas, and returned to General Santos in July.

After suffering back-to-back losses to unbeaten Thai champion Chayaphon Moonsri and Jerry Canoy, Jerusalem has won his last 4 bouts to raise his minimumweight record to 15-2 with 9 knockouts.

Only 21, Domingo has won two in a row and holds a 13-1 card with 7 knockouts as a light flyweight.

According to Manangquil, he intends to stage a closed-door card in General Santos before the year ends.

For now, he wants to give more exposure to his new fighters whose careers hit a snag following the coronavirus pandemic. – Rappler.com