In the OTX 8 Boxing main event that aired live on DAZN, Cuban boxer Raiko ” El Corojo” Santana (11-4, 6 KOs) scored a controversial split-decision victory over Lorenzo “Truck” Simpson on Friday night, June 28th, at the Overtime Elite Arena in Atlanta, Georgia.
In August 2023, Baltimore native Lorenzo Simpson fought for the first time at the OTE. He entered his matchup against Vladimir Hernandez as an undefeated prospect on the rise. Hernandez outworked Simpson and earned the split-decision victory.
A year later, Lorenzo “Truck” Simpson returned to Atlanta with redemption on his agenda. Standing in his way was Raiko Santana, a tough pro competitor who posted 250 wins during his career as an amateur.
In the first round of the super-middleweight contest, Simpson used lateral movement as he landed his southpaw jab. During the final minute of the opening round, Santana was able to land a couple of solid right-hand shots.
Truck Simpson started the second round by landing a sharp combination, and he closed the round out by connecting with solid shots to Santana’s body. The third round featured back-and-forth action as both men experienced success operating inside the pocket.
The uppercut to the body was the money shot for Simpson in the 5th round, as he landed the punch on multiple occasions. Truck Simpson seemed to be in control in the sixth, as he saw Santana’s shots, making him miss and then pay.
For the next couple of rounds, Simpson displayed power and accuracy as he sat down on his shots. In the 8th and final round, Raiko Santana looked fatigued, but he was letting his hands go. Santana threw a lot of punches, but Simpson landed the more eye-catching shots.
After the 8-round contest, one judge scored the bout 78-74 for Lorenzo Simpson, but the other two judges both scored the bout 76-76. As the match was scored as a draw, in the OTX, this type of scenario warrants an overtime round.
After receiving ample time to get a second wind, Raiko Santana used his amateur experience in the overtime round by throwing a flurry of shots and then holding his opponent. The strategy worked as Santana won the round and was awarded the victory.
Once again, Lorenzo “Truck” Simpson (14-2, 8 KOs) went to the city of Atlanta and had a bad experience. The Overtime Elite Arena is where Truck Simpson suffered both of his pro career losses.
According to the Compu-Box numbers for the Simpson-Santana bout, Raiko Santana threw 462 punches and landed 79, while Lorenzo Simpson threw 391 punches and landed 139 of those shots.
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