Jose Valenzuela KO2 Edwin De Los Santos. ... In the Zuffa Boxing main event, ex-junior welterweight champion Jose “El Rayo” Valenzuela avenged a defeat with a second-round knockout of Edwin De Los Santos. In 2022, De Los Santos took the win in their first meeting when he knocked out Valenzuela in the third round in a fight that saw both men hit the canvas. But in the rematch four years later, Valenzuela showed his evolution as he knocked out De Los Santos in the second round to deliver a statement to the rest of the lightweight division. A sharp start from De Los Santos almost ended in disaster at the end of the opening round when Valenzuela connected with a huge left hand that badly wobbled the Dominican in the closing seconds. Another follow-up left hand wobbled De Los Santos again, but the round came to a close before “Rayo” was able to take full advantage.

 

Having seen the results of his power punches late in the first round, Valenzuela resumed his attack in the second and clipped De Los Santos again as he stalked his man around the ring. Valenzuela stayed composed and landed again, which drew De Los Santos off the ropes and into a wild battle of hooks. Valenzuela covered up well and unleashed a perfectly-timed right hook that sent De Los Santos down to the canvas for the count of ten.

 

It gave Valenzuela the most satisfying, and important, victory of this chapter of his career as the former 140-pound world champion proved himself as a legitimate contender for 135-pound championship gold. And after improving his career record to 16-3 with the 10th knockout of his career, “Rayo” capped off his night by making clear what he wants next – a fight with pound-for-pound star Shakur Stevenson.