Gabriel Santisima is set to make the first defense of his World Boxing Organization (WBO) Asia-Pacific super-bantamweight title against Marsolo Pandian in the main event of "Sanman 102" on July 11, 2026. The bout will take place at the Malungon Sunken Arena in Sarangani Province.
Santisima's Rise to the Title
The 21-year-old Santisima captured the WBO Asia-Pacific belt on February 7, 2026, with a unanimous decision upset over previously unbeaten Japanese prospect Subaru Murata in Japan. That victory stands as the biggest of his career so far. Prior to that, Santisima challenged for a regional title in 2025 but lost by unanimous decision to Zhong Liu in China for the WBO Oriental super-bantamweight crown.
Currently, Santisima is ranked No. 7 by the WBO and No. 12 by the International Boxing Federation (IBF). He trains under Michael Domingo at the Zip-Sanman Wellness Center in Cebu City and is a teammate of former world champion Melvin Jerusalem.
Pandian's Credentials
Pandian, the Philippine Boxing Federation (PBF) super-bantamweight champion, won his title with a first-round knockout of Ricky Cajutol on January 26, 2026, in Pangasinan. He also captured the youth version of the belt after defeating Mark Sabang by majority decision last year.
Records and Expectations
Santisima boasts an impressive win-loss-draw record of 10-1-1 with seven knockouts, while Pandian owns a 6-1-2 record with two knockouts. The July 11 event promises to be a significant test for both fighters as they seek to advance their careers in the super-bantamweight division.
