In the latest installment of "Ballroom Boxing" in Tampa, Florida, former world title challenger Danny "The Bronx Bomber" Santiago (31-4-1, 19 KOs) won a majority decision victory over William Bailey (10-7, 4 KOs). In front of a standing room only crowd, including boxing greats Angelo Dundee, Emanuel Steward, Nate Campbell, Jeff Lacy, Tony Tucker, and more, “The Bronx Bomber” started the night strong, using his experience to work on the body of Bailey. Bailey took some good punches, weathering the output. Age seemed to catch up with Santiago, as he appeared winded between the rounds. Santiago’s pace slowed much in the second, walking right into a right hand to the head, stunning him. Bailey hurt Santiago again near the bell with a left. Santiago cared little for the referee’s commands in the third as he held on to the arm of Bailey and landed a series of illegal punches. The ensuing trade, Bailey again caught Santiago with a left hook.

Santiago continued holding in the fourth, trying to buy time. Bailey continued to come forward, trying to make a fight of the match. The following round saw more of the same slow pace, with Santiago dancing around the ring, picking his shots very carefully, drawing boos from the audience. Santiago kept to his run-run-hit-run technique in the sixth, seemingly gaining the advantage and regaining his wind.

An unimpressive finish to the night, Santiago took the bout on the scorecards, 78-74, 77-75, and 76-76. The crowd boo’d the decision loudly, and Bailey was quoted after the fight saying “justice was served.”
 

In the co-main event bout, previously undefeated Florida native “Magic” Marcus Willis (4-1-2, 2 KOs), met defeat against fellow undefeated Floridian Stalinn Lopez (7-0, 3 KOs), in a six round contest. Willis opened the first with quick combinations. Accidental head butt opened a gash near the left eye on Lopez. Lopez appeared to be bothered with the cut, as his output declined much in the middle rounds. Blood continued to pour down the face of Lopez as he fought valiantly against the quicker Willis. The fourth and fifth were filled with trading in the center, with Willis’ speed advantage being the difference. In the end, the determined Lopez overcame the speed of Willis, winning the bout via majority decision 58-56 twice and 57-57.
 

Local female firefighter Christina Swanson, debuted successfully against Jaqueline Hernandez (0-0-1). Swanson’s technical ability and higher rate of accuracy scored her the first couple of rounds. Hernandez’s overhand round found home in the fourth, slightly staggering Swanson. Swanson was able to counter the final minute of the bout, winning by majority decision 39-37 twice and 38-38.

Tampa native Marquis Davis won an impressive debut bout over Donald Clark (1-1, 0 KOs). After a feeling-out round, Davis caught Clark on the ropes and landed a powerful overhand right, followed by a left and right which buckled Clark to the canvas. Official time at stoppage was 1:27 of the second.
 

Reynaldo Cepeda (3-0, 2 KOs), made short work of his opponent, landing an overhand right to drop Steven Benjamine (1-1, 1 KO), within a minute of the round starting. Benjamine rose to his feet to beat the count, only to meet a powerful left hook then crashing down to the canvas, ending the bout at the 1:09 mark of the first.
 

Enrique Rios defeated winless Yuniel Ramos (0-3) in his debut. After a sloppy beginning, Ramos, landed three straight solid rights to hurt Rios, in the middle of the first, finishing the round with right uppercuts to the body on Rios. Ramon started the second strong, but caught the wrong end of a left, startling him. Rios turned the ride in the third, landing a beautiful left towards the end of the round, dropping Ramos. A powerful right hand to the head in the final round dropped Ramos for the second time, highlighting a successful debut by Rios. All three judges for the bout scored the contest 39-35.

Azea Augustama (7-0, 5 KOs) squared off with Adam Collins (7-3, 5 KOs). “The Haitian Hitman” Augustama, took control of the bout early, landing flush punches, dropping Collins, to a knee in the first. A solid right to the face placed Collins on the mat to end the bout at 2:54 of the first.

Ballroom Brawl returns to the Doubletree Westshore on July 16th.