What to Know
- The ProBox TV championship series card in Oceanside, California on Friday saw several fighters advancing their ambitions with victories.
- Former world champion Luis Alberto “Venado” Lopez scored an impressive third-round TKO win over Daniel Lugo.
- In the main event, former world champion Abass Baraou outworked San Diego-based Giovani Santillan to win their junior middleweight bout.
Former WBA super welterweight champion Abass Baraou of Berlin, Germany (18-2, 9 KOs) was in fine form Friday in the ProBox TV main event, dealing another tough hometown loss to Giovani Santillan of San Diego (35-2, 18 KOs) after his defeat by Brian Norman Jr. last year.
Baraou outworked Santillan, who dug a hole with a slow start and was unable to close the gap, giving Baraou the win by majority decision. Scores were 97-93, 96-94, and 95-95. Baraou picks up the WBO Intercontinental title, boosting him up the rankings and positioning him for another title challenge against one of the top names.
Baraou says he doesn’t mind being a road warrior. “I’m confident everywhere I go. If there’s a ring, I’m going to make it work, and I’m going to get the win. That’s my mission always. I see all the opportunities. This is my road back to being a world champion again.”
Baraou dictated the pace early, with Santillan circling. Once a decent action fight broke out between them, Santillan was dishing out some hard shots but also taking plenty of them. His chin held up well, giving him a puncher’s chance in the fight.
Baraou grew frustrated at what he considered a lack of engagement by Santillan, waving his arms and stamping his feet at times. We asked Baraou about this after the fight, and his ambitions moving forward.
Before the final two rounds, trainer Robert Garcia told Santillan he needed to win both. Santillan’s hand speed was his best asset, and he was able to push back Baraou. But the big shots came from Baraou and won it for him in the end.
Baraou outlanded Santillan, with 148 of 541 total punches landed (27%), against 92 of 381 total punches landed for Santillan (24%). Baraou landed 122 power punches, against 72 for Santillan.
Baraou now wants to fulfill his big ambitions. “I’m ready for all the opportunities I can get, all the champions. I want to face them. And today was the first step on the way to becoming world champion again. You’ll going to call me multiple world champion of this division, that’s what I want to be.”
Venado Lopez Enjoys Impressive ProBox Debut
Luis Alberto “Venado” Lopez of Mexicali (33-3, 20 KOs) enjoyed a successful ProBox Promotions debut as he makes his way up through new weight division at super featherweight. Lopez delivered a thorough beatdown of countryman Daniel Lugo of Sonora (28-5-1, 19 KOs) in a third round TKO win.
Lopez came on strong with much the same form that won him a featherweight championship. He punished the game Lugo with nonstop body shots followed by power punches. There was nowhere for Lugo to escape. He did what he could to hold Lopez off.
HE BODY SHOT SET IT UP 💥
Venado Lopez hurt him to the body in round two, then kept the pressure on until it was over in the third. That is how a former world champion announces himself.
📺 Live now exclusively on the ProBox TV YouTube channel, just $5 a month… pic.twitter.com/10f9WlPoO6
— ProBox TV (@ProBox_TV) September 12, 2026
Lopez scored a knockdown on a body shot at the end of round two and got right back on the body attack at the start of round three. Lugo was knocked down again to the body, and Lopez had more time in the round to work with. He let his hands go, and referee Ray Corona stepped in to end the bout at 1:18 of the third round.
“I was very enthusiastic, very anxious to return to the ring, especially here in my hometown in San Diego,” said Lopez, who had hoped to fight championship-level opposition, but no one was available. “But hey, I’m happy to perform here tonight.”
Lopez said his goal has always been the same. “I want to face the world champions: O’Shaquie Foster, Emanuel Navarrete. I’ve never had an easy fight, I’ve gone all over the world to England, other places and never had an easy fight.” Lopez thanked his fans and promised them he would be a world champion once again.” He is off to a good start.
Sousa Remains Undefeated
Middleweight Hebert Conceicao Sousa of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil (12-0, 6 KOs) remains undefeated with a TKO8 against a determined but outgunned Jose de Jesus Adame Chio of Mexicali (15-1-1, 7 KOs).
Conceicao, a Tokyo 2020 gold medalist, is still a bit rough around the edges and got a fierce effort from Chio, whose fans cheered him on. Conceicao scored two knockdowns in round five, but Chio got to his feet both times and carried on.
Down goes Jose De Jesus Adame Chio 💥 Hebert Conceição Sousa catches him in round five and doesn’t let him off the hook.
📺 Live now exclusively on the ProBox TV YouTube channel, just $5 a month#SantillanVsBaraou pic.twitter.com/7DE8YJevw8
— ProBox TV (@ProBox_TV) September 12, 2026
Chio increased his offense, aware he needed a knockout to win. In round 8, Chio’s luck ran out when Conceicao caught him for his third knockdown. With referee Ray Corona hovering, Conceicao fired off several more power punches, causing Corona to wave off the fight. Chio got a nice round of applause for his effort as he left the ring after his first loss.
Undefeated junior-lightweights Dominic Valle and Francois Scarboro Jr. put on a slugfest for their supporters through ten active rounds. Valle had the upper hand in the early rounds, but “The Franchise” came on strong as he started to put more combinations together. But it wasn’t enough, as the unanimous decision went to Valle of Lutz, Florida (14-0, 7 KOs) over Scarboro of Cheverly, Maryland (14-1, 9 KOs). Scores were 98-92, 98-92, and 96.94.
Undercard Results
Super lightweight Daniel Morales of San Diego (10-0, 6 KOs) made his many fans at Frontwave happy with a second-round knockout win over Lorenzo Vazquez Avalos of Fontana, California (4-2, 3 KOs). Official time was 59 seconds of the round.
In off the broadcast action, Jorge de Jesus of Puerto Rico (15-2, 10 KOs) spoiled the comeback for San Diego fan favorite and former world title contender Mercito “No Mercy” Gesta of Menifee, California (34-5-3, 17 KOs) in his return three years after his knockout loss to William Zepeda. De Jesus wins by majority decision, 99-91, 98-92, and 95-95.
Gayle Falkenthal is an award-winning boxing journalist with more than four dozen awards for both written and video coverage from the Boxing Writers Association of America, Society of Professional Journalists, and San Diego Press Club, where she is the past president. She is the only woman journalist who is a full voting member of the BWAA. She is the Boxing Editor for NY Fights based in San Diego, California.
