Las Vegas junior welterweight Ramon Montano raised some eyebrows last month with his split decision win over hard-hitting Americo Santos. It marked the second time in the past year Montano’s acquitted himself well against a young prospect, and could earn the 24-year-old the reputation as a spoiler, someone good enough to beat a young fighter if he’s not at the top of his game. For Montano, the fight served as a source of redemption
after a disappointing decision loss to Humberto Tapia last year.

“I wanted to win this fight because I lost the fight with Tapia,” he said, speaking by phone through girlfriend/interpreter Gabriela Herrera. “I wanted to show everybody I’m a good boxer. I lost the last one because I was sick. I wanted to show my promoter and all the people I’m okay now.”

Montano had to survive some rocky moments to get the win over Santos. After starting the bout well, he found himself on the canvas in the third round after getting tagged with a well-placed hook. He weathered the storm, and proceeded to outbox Santos for much of the remainder of the eight round contest. With the victory, his record improved to a respectable 11-3-2. He’s never been stopped and gone 5-1-2 in his last eight bouts.

One of those draws was against then 24-0 Dmitriy Salita in Atlantic City in March, 2006. Montano dropped the former New York amateur star twice in the first round and stunned him on other occasions, only to achieve a stalemate on the cards after the eight rounds were completed. The decision was widely booed.

“I won that fight with Dmitriy,” he said. “Everyone knew I won but I was in his hometown. They didn’t give it to me. 100 % I won. That’s what I think.”

“I was really interested in a rematch. I even asked Salita. He was not really interested; he said he wanted to fight with better boxers. I told him if you want to fight with better boxers, ‘Get me’.”

The fighter hopes to build upon his recent successes in his next bout in April. Trained by former bantamweight champ Richie Sandoval, he’s back in the gym waiting for a date from his management team.  His career recharged by the win over Santos, Montano isn’t picky about who he fights next.

“I’m prepared to box any good boxer.”

Ramon would like to thank his promoter Glen Amador and matchmaker Brad Goodman for the work they have done. He would also like to thank his girlfriend Gabriela for her support.

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