In the main event of OTX 8 Boxing, broadcast live on DAZN, Cuban boxer Raico “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 OTE. He came into the matchup against Vladimir Hernandez as an undefeated prospect. Hernandez dominated Simpson, winning by split decision.
A year later, Lorenzo “Truck” Simpson returned to Atlanta determined to get revenge, and standing in his way was Raico Santana, a tough pro who had won 250 races as an amateur.
In the first round of their super middleweight bout, Simpson used lateral movement while throwing a southpaw jab. Santana landed several hard right punches in the final minute of the first round.
Truck Simpson started the second round with some sharp combinations and closed the round with some hard punches to Santana's body. The third round was a back-and-forth affair with both fighters managing to stay in the pocket.
An uppercut to the body was the deciding factor in the fifth round for Simpson, who landed multiple punches. Trucks Simpson seemed to be in control in the sixth round, anticipating Santana's shots, forcing them to miss, then retaliating.
For the next few rounds, Simpson showed power and accuracy while preparing to punch. In the eighth and final round, Raiko Santana appeared to be tiring but was easing up. Santana was throwing more punches, but Simpson was landing more eye-catching ones.
After eight rounds, one judge scored it 78-74 for Lorenzo Simpson, while the other two judges both scored it 76-76. The bout was scored as a draw, and OTX requires overtime in such a scenario.
With enough time to regain his composure, Santana used his amateur experience in the extra time to land a flurry of punches and then hold his opponent back. The strategy worked, as Santana won the round and took the victory.
Lorenzo “Truck” Simpson (14-2, 8 KOs) returned to the city of Atlanta for a bittersweet visit to the Overtime Elite Arena, the same place where he lost twice in his professional career.
According to Compubox numbers for the Simpson vs. Santana fight, Raiko Santana threw 462 punches, landing 79, while Lorenzo Simpson threw 391 punches, landing 139.
