Peña faces the world-tested Santisima – the toughest opponent of his career

Bernese boxer Angelo Peña will defend his WBO Intercontinental title against the hard-hitting Filipino Jeo “Santino” Santisima in the main event of Boxing Day 2025. Peña, a local hero and currently ranked No. 7 by the WBO, aims to continue his push toward a world title shot.

Dangerous and experienced
The 29-year-old Santisima is world-tested, having competed in several title fights in Asia and the USA. Losses against top opponents are balanced by 22 spectacular knockout victories, most recently winning the WBC Asia Continental title. His record of 26 wins in 34 fights, with a KO rate of around 85 percent, makes him a classic “live opponent”: dangerous, proven, and always capable of ending a fight early.

For the undefeated Angelo Peña, Santisima represents the toughest challenge of his career so far. However, the situation is familiar for the Bernese fighter of Dominican descent — over the past years, he has consistently faced increasingly stronger opponents, steadily climbing the rankings. Peña last defended his title in March at the Stadttheater in Bern against multiple EBU European champion Karim Guerfi. For this year’s Boxing Day, he is once again training at the gym of Cuban star coach Ismael Salas in Las Vegas.

A bout with significance
Peña’s next opponent gained international attention in February 2020 as a challenger in a WBO world title fight. On the undercard of Fury–Wilder II in Las Vegas, he surprised as an underdog with a high-level performance. Santisima lost, but showed toughness and courage, even putting Mexican champion Emanuel Navarrete in trouble in the fourth round.

Navarrete is the current world champion in Peña’s weight class. A victory over Santisima would therefore be a clear statement in support of demanding a world title fight in 2026. While this represents a major hurdle for Peña, it promises Swiss boxing fans a sporting highlight rarely seen in the country.