Azael Villar vs Rene Santiago Preview October 30th, 2024
The vacant WBO International Light Flyweight Title is on the line this Wednesday, October 30th as home town hero Rene Santiago of Puerto Rico takes on Azael Villar of Panama. The 10-rounder takes place in the city of Humacao and can be seen live in America on ESPN+. Santiago was last in action in March when he dropped a 12-round unanimous decision to fellow countryman Jonathan Gonzalez in a shot at the WBO Light Flyweight Title. In his previous outing last October, Santiago stopped Kevin Vivas in the 12th round to become the Interim WBO Light Flyweight Champion. Villar’s last fight resulted in an eight-round unanimous decision over the same Kevin Vivas in July.
Villar vs Santiago Betting Odds
Here are the betting odds from online sportsbook BetOnline.ag (full review here).
- Azael Villar +250
- Rene Santiago -325
My Pick
The 30-year-old Villar has 131 rounds under his belt since making his pro debut in 2013 and enters the contest with a record of 21-3-4 and 15 Ko’s. He stands 5-feet-6-inches tall with an unlisted reach. Since turning pro he’s won the vacant WBC Fecarbox Light Flyweight Title, which he captured in 2021 via a 10-round unanimous decision over David Martinez. His first defeat came at the hands of Jerson Ortiz in 2018 when he was stopped in just 55 seconds. He was then stopped in the seventh round by Ayumu Hanada in Japan in 2023.
Villar dropped a 12-round unanimous decision to Jairo Noriega in March in a shot at the vacant WBO Latino Light Flyweight title in his most recent loss. His four draws came against Gerardo Zapata over 10 rounds as well as Daniel Matellon, Jesus Martinez and Carlos Melo in six-round affairs. As far as power goes, Villlar is pretty useful as 71.4 per cent of his wins have come by way of stoppage but he’s gone the distance in his last four fights and he has two wins, two losses and a draw in his past five outings.
Santiago is 32-years-old with a mark of 12-4 with 9 Ko’s and has boxed just 84 rounds since making his pro debut in 2014. He measures 5-feet-3-inches tall but also has an unlisted reach so is three inches shorter than Villar. As far as power is concerned, Santiago also has plenty of it as 75 per cent of his victories have been by stoppage, including three of his last four. His first pro defeat came at the hands of Waldemar Pagan by six-round unanimous decision in 2016.
He dropped another six-round unanimous decision two years later to Geovani Garcia Barragan. His third loss was a 10-round unanimous nod to Yudel Reyes in April, 2022 in a shot at the vacant WBO NABO Minimumweight Title and then he lost to Gonzalez earlier this year. Santiago beat Israel Vazquez by 10-round unanimous decision in 2020 for the vacant WBO Latino Light Flyweight Belt and defended it against Gerardo Zapata by way of second-round disqualification in December 2022 and against Carlos Ortega by ninth-round TKO in April, 2023.
Prediction…
Santiago has a bit more power than Villar and appears to also have a sturdier chin. He’s also fighting at home. Villar should have his moments in this fight but I think Santiago’s power and chin will see him come out on top in a relatively close affair.
Santiago has the edge in skills but Villar still has a legitimate chance.
Play: Santiago -325 @ BetOnline.ag
Check out my recent boxing betting picks to see my current form.
Azael Villar betting • Rene Santiago betting