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Santos is ready to fight tonight

By JOHN C. COTEY

© St. Petersburg Times, published February 22, 2001

If it seems like just yesterday David Santos was last fighting, it's because it was.

Sort of.

In fight years, the three-week break between Santos' victory over Steve Trumble and his scheduled fight tonight against Emillio Alarato is rare. But the hard-hitting St. Petersburg product said his last fight was easy, only five rounds and he is ready to go.

Which begs the question: Where exactly is Santos going?

While rated the super featherweight's No. 7 fighter by the IBF, one has to wonder what kind of opportunities are down the road for a 30-year-old fighter who has lost the past two fights that really mattered -- a title fight with Joel Cassamayor in 1999 and September's matchup with now IBF champion Steven Forbes.

Even Santos doesn't know. But he plans on taking advantage of every opportunity like tonight's against Alarato (16-5) at the Fort Homerly Hesterly Armory in Tampa. Santos (34-5) is the main event on a card also featuring fighters from Jim McLoughlin's gym in St. Petersburg. The card begins at 7:30.

Santos is hoping to parlay an impressive win, if it comes, into a title shot. But with a No. 7 ranking and no big wins to speak of the past three years, promoters are hoping to line up young, up-and-coming stars for him to fight.

At the moment, Santos is somewhere between where he wants to be and where he likely is headed.

"I'm still ranked No. 7," Santos said. "After this fight, I'll be five or six. I'll keep going until one of the big guys gives us a title shot.

"For me that's what it's all about, a world title fight. I'm not getting paid enough for guys using me as a stepping stone."

After the loss to Forbes, which set Forbes up in a title fight he won, Santos might be running out of promising options.

He said he still gets calls from promoters, though he is without one at the moment. The offers, so far, have not been to his liking. He will not take what he knows to be a $20,000 fight for $5,000. He insists he will not be taken advantage of, especially with a good job and a new wife.

There is talk he could fight the IBF No. 8 featherweight Augie Sanchez, a respected and known fighter who lost a title match to Prince Naseem Hamed last year. A victory over an opponent of that quality could make Santos a viable option again.

"I'll take a fight like that or against a young contender if the offer is a good one," Santos said. "I haven't said no to the Augie Sanchez fight yet. We'll see.

"I feel like I'm definitely still in the (boxing) picture. A little bit of time and it'll all work out."

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