An early left uppercut set the tone. Victoriano Santillan hit the canvas and got back up, but Yosif Panov had seized control of the fight.
On 6 April 2023 at Sofia Hall, Panov beat the Argentine by unanimous decision at MaxFight 53 to claim the UBO International welterweight title. It was our first UBO belt with Yosif, earned after a late change of opponent forced the team to adapt.
A late change of opponent
The Viper was originally due to fight Edmond Zefi. An injury to the Kosovan boxer forced a change of opponent in the final week, and Victoriano Antonio Santillan, known as Papelito, took his place.
A late replacement means preparing for a new style without losing the fitness or confidence built during camp. We had only a few days to study Santillan and adjust Yosif’s preparation.
Papelito brought speed and heavy punching
Santillan arrived from Buenos Aires with ten wins, seven by knockout. He was a boxer who could punish a mistake, and his appearance as a replacement did not automatically make the bout easier. Panov had to establish his superiority in the ring.
Panov took control early with the left uppercut that scored the knockdown. Santillan recovered and remained competitive enough to take the fight to the final bell, so Yosif had to keep working to secure the belt.
Panov never lost control
The early success could have tempted The Viper into rushing after a knockout. Instead, he maintained his advantage throughout the fight. The Argentine kept resisting but could not turn it around. For our team, this was the most convincing part of the performance: Panov remained in command after the strong start.
The audience also saw two different qualities. Yosif showed a punch capable of dropping an opponent and the ability to complete the task over the distance. Santillan showed the toughness and character to reach the scorecards. The decision was unanimous, and the international belt stayed in Bulgaria.
Santillan’s next fight showed the value of the victory
Just five weeks later, on 13 May, Papelito entered the ring in Cambon, France, against local fighter Benjamin Dubois. The Argentine won by technical knockout in the sixth round to take the vacant IBO Mediterranean welterweight title.
That result added further weight to Panov’s April performance. The opponent he had dominated so clearly in Sofia immediately went on to win another championship fight away from home.
From the international belt to the world title opportunity
Winning the UBO International title gave Panov confidence and set up the next opportunity. Six months later, he would face Sandy Messaoud for the UBO world belt. His disciplined response to a late opponent change had been an important step towards that fight.
Yosif Panov vs Victoriano Santillan
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