Yan Santana vs Aaron Alameda Predictions: ‘Dangerous’ prospect comes of age

Unbeaten prospect Yan Santana ups his game this Saturday, July 26 as he takes on former world title challenger Aaron Alameda. The bout takes place at the Madison Square Garden Theater in New York. The main event sees Xander Zayas aim to win his first world title against Jorge Garcia Perez. ESPN+ carries the broadcast in the USA while the UK awaits news on television coverage after the expiration of Top Rank’s deal with Sky Sports.

Here are my Yan Santana vs Aaron Alameda predictions ahead of this super featherweight showdown.

Yan Santana vs Aaron Alameda Odds

Alameda is unsurprisingly the underdog in this bout, though 3/1 is a shout given his experience at the top level. Santana hopes to reach those heights and is a 1/4 shot to move Alameda out of his way to do so.

Yan Santana vs Aaron Alameda Fight Preview

On a night when Top Rank’s prized featherweight Bruce Carrington aims to win a WBC interim belt for the first time, the show could be stolen by the promotion’s other hot 126lb prospect. 

25-year-old Santana has lived up to his ‘Dangerous’ nickname in his initial 14 pro fights, knocking out 12 of his opponents. Every single stoppage arrived in the first four rounds, with only Brandon Valdes and Edwin Palomares have extended him further. Santana widely outpointed both men over the 10 round distance, proving that he has stamina to match his power.

To date, Santana’s best win came over former WBO title challenger Eduardo Baez. Only Emanuel Navarrete had stopped ‘El Gemelo’ before. World class company to keep. Santana opened his man up with vicious, short punches thrown in combination from the crab defence stance. It was sharp, violent and elegant all in one.

Alameda is another former world title challenger and he is in good form. The Mexican is 30-2 and has won his last five outings, with four victories by stoppage. Alameda’s two defeats have come in the very highest class. The first was a competitive unanimous loss to Luis Nery for the WBC super bantamweight title. The second was a majority decision defeat to Angelo Leo, who is now the IBF featherweight kingpin.

This is a litmus test. A measure of just how ‘Dangerous’ the man who wears the name really is. Alameda is not a journeyman or a gatekeeper. He is only 31 and has not lost in four years. Even when beaten, Alameda has given good accounts of himself against world champions. This is a jump in class for the emerging Santana. 

It is one that the Dominican star looks ready for. Baez was supposed to extend Santana, but he got caught in the crossfire from the 25-year-old’s rock-hard fists. But many a young puncher has captured hearts and minds with their destructive tendencies, only for the wheels to unceremoniously fall off when met with a durable foe.

Santana has already passed that test. Valdes had taken the classy Ruben Villa the distance while Palomares had given many prospects a close fight, often being unlucky on the cards. But when faced with opponents who would not go down, Santana simply outpointed then with composure and no shortage of acumen.

Skill and will are likely to be measured once more. Alameda is no soft touch. He is an underdog, but no push-over. This is a proper opponent for a fighter many think can go all the way to the top.

Yan Santana vs Aaron Alameda Full Card

Xander Zayas vs Jorge Garcia Perez 

Bruce Carrington vs Mateus Heita

Yan Carlos Santana-Guerrero vs Aaron Alameda

Rohan Polanco vs Quinton Randall

Bakhodir Jalolov vs Gianmarco Cardillo 

Steven Navarro vs Cristopher Rios

Emiliano Vargas vs Alexander Espinoza

Juanma Lopez De Jesus vs Jorge L. Gonzalez-Sanchez

Julius Ballo vs Brandan Ayala

Yan Santana vs Aaron Alameda Prediction

I think Santana will need that composure I touched upon before. I believe Alameda will stay with him, even if I think the Mexican loses the majority of the rounds. He is a tough customer and Santana will be thoroughly tested.

We said the same before Baez of course and look what happened. ‘El Gemelo’ was another fighter who had never been stopped and had largely mixed with world class opponents in recent years. 

But Alameda, despite being older than Baez, feels sturdier at this stage. There are less miles on the clock. However, I believe Santana will add a few more with those fast, relentless barrages he throws.

I’m taking Santana on points in this one. A stoppage would not surprise me by any means, but I just think Alameda is made of stern enough stuff to survive. Santana to win via decision is 1/1.

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