A future superstar exploded on the scene when he debuted in 2021. Despite only a couple of years into his pro career, Yan Santana has taken the boxing world by storm and put the featherweight division on alert. As a natural progression, he wants to fight for the title soon. But before that, the Dominican Republic fighter wants to surge through the ranks. So, how is he planning it? By going up against Brandon Valdes, who is himself itching to prove his worth.

The scheduled fight for June 29 on the Teofimo Lopez vs. Steve Claggett bill has all the flavors for the fans to enjoy, which is also the opening act of the Top Rank card. So what can you expect from the fight? It’s a clash of the wills, a showdown of their zeal to rise through the ranks and burst into the title conversation. But who will be the one who earns himself a top-15 rank and inches closer to their dream? First, let’s have a look at how the two measure up before the high-stakes fight.

Yan Santana vs. Brandon Valdes: Tale of the Tape

Why has this sudden rise in popularity among fans for 24-year-old Santana? The flyweight boxer is a force to be reckoned with inside the ring, as he has dismantled all of his opponents inside the final bell. Fans take a look at his unblemished record of 11-0 and acknowledge his skillset. But when they notice that Sanata has racked up all his wins through knockouts and boasts a 100% KO ratio, that’s when they realize the devastating power he packs behind those punches.

What’s more? The La Romana native has the dimensions to impose his will on his opponents with his 5’8″ (173 cm) height and a reach of 72.0″ (183 cm), which is a visual that fans have become used to witnessing, whenever he steps inside the ring. Valdes, on the other hand, has been on a tumultuous journey in the past couple of years. While he is older and more experienced at 25, he has fallen to 15-4 with 7 KOs. Undoubtedly, that’s a worrying trend for him and his fans.

The fans should fret more about his KO ratio, which has dipped sharply since he last stopped his opponent in 2019 and has now gone 7 fights without a finish, over the same stretch. At least the Barranquilla native can be content that there is nothing that separates the two in dimensions, as he also stands tall at 5’8″ (173 cm). So, will these numbers hold weight when both fighters step inside the James L. Knight Center?

Prediction: X factor and where the fight will be won

What separates Santana from the rest of the flyweight contenders? It’s his fan-friendly and assertive style that fans have grown fond of. In addition, ‘Dangerous’ has the insatiable desire to make a name for himself at 126. As his promoter, Hector Soto, continues to proclaim, he is a “special talent” in development.

So, what is Santana’s X factor that will trouble Valdes? While he has devastating knockout power, his ring intelligence makes him pop out and allows him to use all the tools at his disposal to make quick work of his opponents. In a nutshell, for fans, Santana is a complete fighter. Where does it leave Valdes?

Valdes had a splendid start to his career, as he collected 13 straight wins after making his debut in March 2016. But when he hit a snag after suffering his first defeat to Ricardo Espinoza, his career got trapped in a stop-go loop. And the Rosemead representative has yet to break that off. The fans have seen him on the other side of a decision in four out of his last 6 fights. That doesn’t mean Valdes hasn’t turned in good performances.

Despite recent setbacks, he has been the aggressor in the fights that he lost, trying to walk down and land blows to the body and head. He has also dictated the pace of the fights. So, it might be a matter of time before things come together for him. Maybe against Santana only? Who knows? So, what is Valdes’ X factor that might pull the tides in his favor? Like Santana, it’s his intelligence, but with added experience. He can do it all. But will that be enough? We’ll find that out this Saturday.

What do you make of this coming fight between Yan Santana and Brandon Valdes? Who do you believe will emerge victorious and move up in the ranks? Let us know in the comments below.