Split-T Management’s Eric Puente & Dalis Kaleiopu Gain wins on Saturday

NEW YORK (February 13, 2021) – Two of Split-T Management’s lightweight prospects emerged victorious on Saturday night in separate shows in Las Vegas and Indio, California.

Eric Puente remained perfect with an easy four-round unanimous decision over Sergio Vega to raise his mark to 5-0.

The bout took place at the MGM Conference Center, AKA “The Bubble” in Las Vegas, and was streamed lived on ESPN+

Puente boxed well and followed a solid jab with good left hooks. Vegas was never any concern to the 21 year-old Puente.

Puente, 137 lbs of San Diego, CA won by scores of 40-36 on all cards and is now 5-0. Vega, 136 lbs of Sacramento, CA is 2-1-1.

Puente is promoted by Top Rank.

Dalis Kaleiopu was sensational in his pro debut as he stopped Eduardo Sanchez in the third-round of their fight at The Fantasy Springs Resort in Indio, California.

Kaleiopu dominated the opening two frames, and in round landed a blistering right uppercut that sent Sanchez down to the canvas, and the fight was stopped at 48 seconds into round three.

Kaleiopu, 136 lbs of Waianae, HI is 1-0 with one knockout. Sanchez, 135.6 lbs of Corcoran, CA is 2-4.

“It’s been a long time because of COVID,” said Dalis Kaleiopu. “So, it felt great to finally make my pro debut. I hurt him many times, but I let him go. But then I landed a shot he couldn’t come back from, so it feels good to stop somebody that has never been stopped.

Kaleiopu, who is under the guidance of Split-T Management’s Tim VanNewhouse, is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions.




Split-T Management’s Undefeated Lightweight Eric Puente Plus Pro Debuting Dalis Kaleiopu in Action

NEW YORK (February 13, 2021) – Tonight, two lightweight prospects under the Split-T Management banner will be in action on two separate cards.

In Las Vegas, undefeated Eric Puente makes his first start of 2021, when he takes on Sergio Vega at the MGM Grand Conference Center, AKA “The Bubble.”

Dalis Kaleiopu takes on Eduardo Sanchez at The Fantasy Springs Resort in Indio, California.

Puente, 21 of Vista, California, and Vega take part in a four-round bout. Puente will be making his 3rd appearance in “The Bubble” as he is coming off a four-round unanimous decision over Luis Norambuena on September 12th.

Puente was a 2016 National Youth Open Champion, and was a member of Team USA. Puente was a favorite to be a member of the 2020 United States Olympic Team.

Puente will be taking on his first undefeated opponent. Vega of Woodland, California is 2-0-1 with both wins coming via knockout. He is coming off a draw with undefeated Diego Elizondo on June 8, 2019.

At Friday’s weigh-in, Puente checked in at 137 lbs. Vega was 136 lbs,

The Puente – Vega bout will be part of an ESPN+ stream, beginning at 8:15. PM ET.

Puente is promoted by Top Rank.

??Kaleiopu will look to follow his fellow Waianae, Hawaii native and Split-T Stablemate, Asa Stevens in winning his pro debut in 202. Kaleiopu takes on veteran Eduardo Sanchez (2-3) in a four-round bout.

Kaleiopu, 21 years-old won the Western Elite championships in 2018, and in the same year, Kaleiopu was a National Championship runner-up.

Kaleiopu, who is under the guidance of Split-T Management’s Tim VanNewhouse, is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions.,

Kaleiopu was 133.6 lbs. at Friday’s weigh-in. Sanchez was 135.6 lbs.




Valdez decisions Sanchez; Retains Featherweight title

Oscar Valdez dropped Jason Sanchez en-route to a 12-round unanimous decision to retain the WBO Featherweight title at Reno-Sparks Convention Center in Reno, Nevada.

In the opening seconds of round five, Valdez dropped Sanchez with a hard left hook. The two had some nice exchanges that Valdez got the better in most of those skirmishes.

Valdez, 125.4 lbs of Nogales, MEX won by scores of 118-109 twice and 117-110, and is now 26-0. Sanchez, 124.8 lbs of Albuquerque, NM is 14-1.

“I hope {to fight at featherweight again}. I also have to listen to my body. We’re going to see what’s best,” Valdez said. “Sometimes I get tired in there, and I’m not sure if it’s because of the weight loss. We’ll talk about {my next move} as a team and will do what is best. I want to fight everybody at 126, 130. Let’s do it.”

“Sanchez lacked experience, but he showed tremendous guts. Oscar Valdez fought him back and showed his championship heart,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum. “We’re going to look for a fight later on in the year between Valdez and Carl Frampton if Frampton is successful in his next fight.”

19 Year-Old Gabriel Flores Jr.remained undefeated by winning an eight-round unanimous decision over Salvador Briceno in a light weight bout.

Scores were 79-73 and 78-74 twice for Flores, 132.8 lbs of Stockton, California and is now 14-0. Briceno, 132.2 lbs of Guadalajara, MEX is 15-4.

“I want to fight in the next two, three months. If they want me to fight next month, we can talk about it,” Flores said. “I am only 19, and I am only getting better. I’m staying busy and fighting better opponents. Top Rank is developing me perfectly, and it’s about fighting all different types of fighters to get me ready for the championship level.”

Robson Conceicao won an eight-round unanimous decision over Carlos Ruiz in a super featherweight bout.

Conceicao, 127.8 lbs of Baiha, BRA won by scores of 80-72 twice and 79-73, and is now 13-0. Ruiz, 127.2 lbs of Mexico City is now 16-7-2.

Sergio Vega and Diego Elizondo battled to a unanimous draw in a lightweight contest.

All three judges saw the score 38-38.

Vega, 133.6 lbs of Sacramento, CA is 2-0-1. Elizondo, 1348.8 lbs of Crason City, NV is 2-0-2.

Michael Seals scored a one-punch stoppage of Christopher Brooker in round two of their scheduled 10-round light heavyweight bout.

Seals landed a right hand to the top of the head that put Brooker out and briefly out cold and the fight was stopped at 2:00.

Seals, 175.2 lbs of Atlanta is 23-2 with 17 knockouts. Brooker, 174.6 lbs of Philadelphia is 14-7.

“He’s a tough guy. I did my homework on him,” Seals said. “I knew he was crafty, so I had to take my time. I knew I was going to walk him into something.”

In a battle of pro debuting super lightweights, J.J. Mariano stopped William Flenoy in the final round of their scheduled four-round bout.

Mariano registered a knockdown in round three from a left hook. In the next round, Mariano landed some hard shots, and Flenoy bowed out of the fight citing an injured shoulder.

Mariano, 138.2 lbs of Reno is 1-0 with one knockout. Flenoy, 139.4 lbs of Fresno, CA is 0-1.