Giovani Santillan

Giovani Santillan, born on December 3, 1991, is an American professional boxer measuring 5 feet 8 inches in height, with a reach of 69 inches. He began his boxing career in 2012 and hails from San Diego, California, with familial ties to Mexico.

Santillan began his amateur boxing career with early success, winning the California State Silver Gloves in the junior division in 2004 in Long Beach, followed by a National Silver Gloves title in 2005 in Missouri. He transitioned to professional boxing, making a significant impact by defeating Imarjoe Miller by unanimous decision in his debut. Subsequently, Santillan captured the NABO welterweight title by overcoming Sammy Valentin and successfully defended this title on two occasions in 2017 and 2018. In October 2023, he reclaimed the NABO title by defeating emerging contender Alexis Rocha via a sixth-round knockout at the Kia Forum, marking Rocha's first knockout defeat. He followed that with a high-stakes bout against unbeaten Brian Norman Jr. in May 2024 for the WBO interim welterweight title, where he was stopped late after a competitive fight. Santillan rebounded later that year with a first-round retirement victory over Fredrick Lawson.

Giovani remained active in 2025, earning a unanimous decision over Angel Gabriel Beltran Villa on May 10 at Pechanga Arena in San Diego. The win reinforced his position as a seasoned presence in the welterweight division, combining experience, pressure, and resilience against a wide range of opponents.

Giovani Santillan is acknowledged for his swarmer fighting style, characterized by an aggressive and relentless approach toward opponents. While his hip positioning may appear somewhat squared, he demonstrates a vigorous intensity that keeps adversaries constantly alert. Santillan's strategy emphasizes the delivery of "equilibrium chin" shots, which disrupt the balance of his opponents, allowing him to control the tempo of the match. His footwork is particularly commendable, featuring well-timed pivots that enable him to maintain a central position in the ring, thereby dictating the action and creating optimal opportunities for striking.

He prioritizes the execution of equilibrium chin shots, directing his assaults straight down the centerline to maximize the impact of each punch. This method is strategically developed to leverage the most damaging strikes possible, thereby maintaining pressure and compelling opponents to adopt a defensive posture. Santillan's fighting style is rooted in classical techniques while simultaneously adapting to contemporary strategies. Within the modern boxing framework, he employs lateral movement to create advantageous angles for his most effective strikes. This synthesis of aggression, precision, and strategic footwork renders Santillan a formidable opponent in the welterweight division, as he seeks to impose his will and inflict maximal damage with every exchange.