November 7, 1999

TROPICAL PUNCH!
JOEL CASAMAYOR vs DAVID SANTOS
WBA Super Featherweight Championship
November 20 -- Miccosukee Casino -- FOX Sports Net

MIAMI, FL -- Two of the world's best super featherweights will rumble for the world title, November 20, at Miami's Miccosukee Indian Gaming. Undefeated WBA interim super featherweight champion JOEL CASAMAYOR of Miami, FL., will make his first title defense against world-rated contender DAVID SANTOS, of St. Petersburg, FL. The winner will be in line to unify the title with Floyd Mayweather and Diego Corrales the respective WBC and IBF champions of the 130-pound division. This world title fight will be televised nationally on FOX Sports Net, on tape-delay, Sunday, November 21, 7-9 p.m. EST.

Casamayor, 19-0 (12 KOs), became Team Freedom's first world champion when he dethroned then-WBA champion Antonio Hernandez last June at the Miccosukee via a dominant unanimous decision. The 1992 Olympic Gold Medalist, Casamayor is the "Crown Jewel" of Miami-based Team Freedom, a group of Cuban expatriate fighters. After compiling an extraordinary amateur record of 380-30, Casamayor defected to the U.S. where he has earned a reputation for carrying knockout power in both fists.

Before winning the WBA title, Casamayor captured the NABF's interim super featherweight title in January with a unanimous decision over former champion Jose Noyola. He added victories in March and April with a unanimous decision over Russell Jones and a sixth-round knockout over Jay Cantue, respectively. In his last bout, Casamayor scored a second-round KO over Enrique Valenzuela in a non-title fight in August.

Santos, 36-2 (24 KOs), has held Florida State, USBA, NABU and IBA featherweight titles, boasting victories over Rodrigo Cerda, Pat Simeon, Shane Gannon, Max Gomez, and Agustin Lorenzo. His victory over Lorezno in March -- a second-round TKO for he vacant NABU title, was the last featherweight fight for Santos. He moved up to the super featherweight class and took on Ernest Koffi for the vacant NABF title, July 4, in Ft. Lauderdale. Koffi dominated the first two rounds, but it was all Santos in the fourth round, where he drove Koffi to the ropes an unloaded 17 unanswered punches before referee Frank Santore called a halt at 1:38 of the round. It was Santos' fifth consecutive knockout victory. Santos returns to the ring fresh from a 10-round decision win over Freddy Cruz in October.