Santo Domingo becomes the heartbeat of Caribbean boxing this Saturday, February 21, as Noel Reyes Cepeda and Víctor Santillán collide in an all-Dominican showdown for the WBA interim super bantamweight world title. It’s a high-stakes, fratricidal clash that could define the next major contender in the 122-pound division.

At 39 years old, Reyes Cepeda (19-4, 15 KOs) stands at the defining moment of his career. The La Vega native has enjoyed a late-career resurgence over the past two years, stacking up emphatic wins that propelled him to No. 6 in the WBA world rankings. His calling card is power—backed by an imposing knockout ratio that makes him especially dangerous in the early frames. For Reyes, this represents the chance to crown a lifetime of work with his first world title.

Santillán (15-2, 6 KOs), meanwhile, embodies the new guard. The La Romana native is known for polished technique and fluid footwork that tends to frustrate heavy-handed opponents. He’s no stranger to big stages, having faced Tenshin Nasukawa in Japan. Built on volume punching and tactical intelligence, Santillán’s style is designed to defuse power and bank rounds.

Stylistically, it’s the classic puncher-versus-boxer matchup. Reyes will look to impose his strength from the opening bell, hunting for damage early. Santillán’s path likely runs through discipline and distance, stretching the fight into the later rounds and trusting his craft to sway the scorecards.

(April 18, 2025) — The world’s two best bantamweights are set to battle with two world title belts on the line. WBC champion Junto Nakatani will fight IBF king Ryosuke Nishida in a title unification tilt on Sunday, June 8, at Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan.

Nakatani-Nishida headlines a bantamweight tripleheader streaming live and exclusively on ESPN+ in the U.S.

Unbeaten former kickboxing prodigy Tenshin Nasukawa (6-0, 2 KOs) takes on Victor Santillan (14-1, 5 KOs) in a 10-rounder, while 2021 World Championships gold medalist Tomoya Tsuboi (1-0, 1 KO) steps up against Vietnam’s Van Thao Tran (18-1, 10 KOs) in a 10-rounder for the WBO Asia Pacific strap.

Nakatani (30-0, 23 KOs) is a three-weight world champion and a consensus top 10-rated pound-for-pound fighter. Following a two-fight championship run at junior bantamweight that included the 2023 Knockout of the Year over Andrew Moloney, Nakatani made a splash in his bantamweight debut with his February 2024 knockout over Alexandro Santiago to win the WBC title. He stopped Vincent Astrolabio and Petch Sor Chitpattana to close out a banner 2024 before making his 2025 debut in February with a devastating third-round knockout over then-unbeaten Mexican standout David Cuellar.

Nishida (10-0, 2 KOs), a one-time high school amateur standout in Japan, turned pro in October 2019 with a first-round knockout. In his fourth pro fight, he won the WBO Asia Pacific regional title with a decision over former world champion Daigo Higa. Last May, he dethroned two-time champion Emmanuel Rodriguez by unanimous decision to capture the IBF title. Nishida made his first title defense in December with a seventh-round TKO over Thailand’s Anuchai Donsua.

Edgar Berlanga remained undefeated with a 10-round unanimous decision over Alexis Angulo in a super middleweight bout at The Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York.

Berlanga, 167.6 lbs of Brooklyn, NY won by scores of 99-91 and 98-92 and is now 20-0. Angulo, 160.6 lbs of Pitai, COL is 27-3.

Henry Lebron Decisions Luis Lebron

Henry Lebron won a eight-round unanimous decision over Luis Lebron in a junior lightweight fight.

In round seven, Luis Lebron began to bleed from his mouth.

Henry Lebron, 130 lbs of Aguadilla, PR won by scores of 80-72, 79-73 and 78-74 and is now 16-0. Luis Lebron, 129.8 lbs of San Juan, PR is 18-4-1.

Victor Santillan won a eight-round unanimous decision over Carlos Caraballo in a junior featherweight bout,

In round two, Santillan was cut on his right eyelid from a headbutt.

Santillan, 119.6 of La Romana, DR won by scores of 78-74 twice and 77-75 and is now 12-0. Caraballo, 120.4 lbs of Guayanilla, PR is 15-2.

Dakota Linger shocked Josue Vargas with a second round stoppage in a scheduled eight-round junior welterweight bout.

Linger landed a hard combination that had Vargas in serious . Linger knocked Vargas between the ropes for a knockdown. Linger was relentless until the bout was stopped at 2:06.

Linger, 142.6 lbs of Buckhamon, WV is 13-5-2 with nine knockouts. Vargas, 142.6 lbs Aguadila, PR is 20-3,

Armani Almestica remained undefeated by stopping Eliseo Villalobos in the final round of their six-round lightweight bout.

In round one Almestica dropped Villalobos with a straight left.

In round six, Almestica continued to land clean shots, and the fight was stopped at 1:47.

Almestica, 134.2 lbs of Orlando, FL is 6-0 with six knockouts. Villalobos, 134.4 lbs of Simi Valley, CA is 2-3.

Orlando Gonzalez stopped Pablo Cruz in round five of their six-round featherweight bout.

In round five, Gonzalez landed a flurry in the corner that forced referee Danny Schivone to stop the bout at 1:00.

Gonzalez, 128 lbs of Agudilla, PR is now 18-1 with 11 knockouts. Cruz, 127.8 lbs of Houston, TX is 22-5-1.

Omar Rosario remained undefeated with a six-round unanimous decision over previously undefeated Julio Rosa in a junior welterweight bout.

Rosario, 140.6 lbs of Caguas, PR won by scores of 60-54 twice and 59-55 and is now 7-0. Rosa, 139.6 lbs of Bayamon, PR is 4-1.

Frevian Gonzalez won a four-round unanimous decision over Refugio Montellano in a lightweight bout.

Gonzalez, 134.6 lbs of Cidra, PR won by scores of 40-36 on all cards, and is now 5-1. Montellano, 134.8 lbs of Dallas, TX is 2-1.

Christina Cruz won remained undefeated with a four-round unanimous decision over Maryguenn Vellinga in a flyweight bout.

In round four, Vellinga was cut badly on here forehead from a headbutt.

Cruz, 111.8 lbs of New York won by scores of 40-36 twice and 39-37 and is now 3-0. Vellinga, 110.6 lbs of Park City, UT is 3-3-2.