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CHIA THE COROLLA
Francisco ‘Chia’ Santana Goes from Primo Boxing to Fighting Against the World’s Best CHRIS BURAU
rancisco “Chia” Santana describes since 2009. Apparently absent his durable career as a boxer in autofrom the proceedings will be longtime track coach Pete motive terms. “I’m like a Corolla,” he Dolan, who has been sussays. “I keep running.” The Santa Barbara native made his profespended by the university for sional debut in the ring at age 18. It appeared undisclosed reasons while an he might be through at 30, when he lost a investigation is underway. decision at the Stubhub Center in Carson. That evening at the Lobero But a year later, he is tuned up and ready to go Theatre, the UCSB Intercolon Friday, April 27, in the quarterfinals of the legiate Athletics Hall of Fame Jose Sulaiman World Invitational Tournawill induct Olympic hepment at Louisville, KY. tathlete Barbara Nwaba Santana (24-6-1, 12 along with volleyball coaches wins by knockout) was Kathy Gregory and Ken Preston, basketball star originally an alternate for the eight-man elimOrlando Johnson, and ination tournament, water polo standout John Anderson. curated by Evander Holyfield, to deterThe public is invited to mine a WBC welterweight championship participate in the 11th annual contender. When the No. 8 seed Derrieck Gaucho Gallop, a 5K run that Cuevas of Puerto Rico bowed out, Santana will benefit student scholarwas chosen to take on top-seeded Félix Díaz ships. Visit allgauchoreunion of the Dominican Republic. Díaz (19-2-0, 9 .com for information on all QUICK WORK: Hardly two minutes into their 2015 bout at the Chumash Casino Resort, Santa Barbara fighter Francisco Santana (left) landed a knockout punch to Kendal Mena. KOs), an Olympic champion in 2008, is a the weekend’s events. formidable opponent. The 1968 Gaucho baseball “I know I’m the underdog,” Santana said. “Once the bell ago, we were jolted by the assassinations of Rev. Martin team, the first to win 30 games, will hold a reunion of its own. Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy. Somehow, we In general, UCSB was up and down in sports in 1967-68. The rings, it’ll be two men in the ring, both punching.” And both are capable of landing a decisive punch. San- soldiered on through our classes and activities — the climate football team went 5-5, with signature wins over Pacific and tana put several men on the mat at the Chumash Casino of protest was not yet full-blown — and a number of us will Santa Clara — all three schools no longer fielding teams. Resort in Santa Ynez, where he compiled a 9-0-1 record. In return to the campus during this weekend’s All-Gaucho UCSB’s most interesting team may have been the first-year basketball squad, which included Mark French, who later his last bout there, in January 2015, he knocked out an inex- Reunion. It is quite a sporty reunion this year. UCSB will host UC coached the Gaucho women into national prominence, and perienced Kendal Mena of the Dominican Republic with a devastating left hook in the first round to claim a WBA Riverside in a three-game baseball series. After starting the Ron Wyden, now a U.S. senator from Oregon. International Championship belt. Big West season in promising fashion by taking two out of Santana’s next bout was in April at New York’s Madison three from Cal State Fullerton, the Gauchos went 2-4 on the R.I.P. PIPERSBURG: I was saddened to hear that Phillip Square Garden on the undercard of Wladimir Klitschko’s road and need a sweep to get back in contention. Pipersburg, one of the fastest sprinters to come out of Santa last fight in the U.S.“It doesn’t get bigger than that,” Santana On Saturday, thanks to a million-dollar reconstruction Barbara, died on April 11 at 62. He clocked a 9.5-second 100said.“The bouts got 1.2 million views on HBO.” He went the funded by a student referendum, the Gaucho track-and- yard dash at S.B. High in 1973 and set SBCC’s 100-meter distance against Sadam Ali, an undefeated future cham- field team will host a meet at Pauley Track for the first time record of 10.74. At age 29, his family roots enabled him to pion, but lost by decision. In 2016, Santana was under represent Belize in the 400 meters at the 1984 Olympics. the bright lights in Las Vegas and lost a close 10-round But only on the track did Pipersburg run in the fast lane. He made his greatest impact on the community decision to unbeaten Jose Benavidez. Santana has been known as Chia ever since he joined as a Santa Barbara probation officer and, with his wife, Santa Barbara’s erstwhile Primo Boxing Club at age 9. Lillian, as a foster parent. Besides raising their own four “Joe Pommier [the Primo trainer] called me a chia pet,” children, they took in more than 200 foster kids. he said. “My hair grows insanely. There’s no way to train NINETY-TWO PERCENTER: Santa Barbara’s Joseph it.” Talarico, representing five western states in the Elks He trained his body to give and take blows in the science of boxing. For the past eight years, the 2004 graduate Hoop Shoot national contest, placed fourth among 12 of Santa Barbara High has trained at the KnuckleHeadz finalists in the 13-year-old division at Chicago last weekend. He made 23 of 25 free throws, while three boys tied Gym in Ventura, where he lives with his wife, Claudia, n and daughter, Rubi. He has a job in the deck department for first with 24. at Port Hueneme Naval Base. Because the format of the Sulaiman tournament calls for each fighter to represent a different country, Santana JOHN said he’ll be wearing Mexico’s colors.“I want to represent Brad Solomon of the U.S., but another guy [No. 5 seed Georgia] has that spot,” he said.
by John
ZANT
S.B. ATHLETIC ROUND TABLE:
PAUL WELLMAN PHOTOS
ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
ZANT’S
MEMORIES OF 1968: Santana will be fighting Friday in the hometown of Muhammad Ali, the most famous
fighter — in and out of the ring — in history. A significant part of Ali’s story was his refusal to accept induction into the service (“I ain’t got no quarrel with them Viet Cong”) during the Vietnam War era, even though he probably would have gotten a PR assignment. He was forced out of boxing from 1967 to 1970. UCSB’s Class of 1968, including yours truly, was profoundly affected by the turmoil of those times. Fifty years
Kelee Shimizu, SBCC swimming
In her first year, she helped the Vaqueros win their fourth straight Western State Conference championship, winning three individual events (200, 500, and 1,650) and swimming on four relays, including a record-setting 400 free relay.
Isaac Coffey, Dos Pueblos baseball
As the Chargers won their 16th consecutive game before this week’s big series against Santa Barbara, the senior pitched a two-hit shutout against Ventura, and he socked three home runs against the Cougars two days earlier.
GAME OF THE WEEK
4/28: College Track & Field: Cal Poly at UCSB What better way to break in the new track at UCSB than hosting the Mustangs in the Blue-Green Rivalry? Among the Gaucho record holders who have never before competed on campus are sprinter Sike Azu-Irondi (100m, 10.55), hurdler Myles McDonald (400m intermediates, 51.55), discus thrower Kordell Hampton (186ʹ9″), women’s hurdler Hope Bender (100m, 13.59, tying Barbara Nwaba’s record), middledistance runner Jenna Hinkle (1,500m, 4:16.62), and long jumper Kiely Gode (20ʹ 2½″). 12:30pm. Pauley Track, UCSB. Free. Call 893-UCSB (8272) or visit ucsbgauchos.com.
INDEPENDENT.COM
APRIL 26, 2018
THE INDEPENDENT
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