Professional boxing is built on winning records, unbeaten prospects and championship dreams. Santiago Garces has spent most of his young career on the opposite side of that equation.
At just 23 years old, the Colombian super welterweight owns a remarkable record of 8-43-7 after becoming one of boxing’s busiest road fighters, travelling across Europe and South America to face a long list of prospects and unbeaten hopefuls.
However, Garces is suddenly writing a very different chapter.
The former journeyman has now put together the longest winning streak of his professional career, reeling off three straight victories since March to breathe new life into a career that once appeared destined to be defined by defeats.
Three Straight Wins
The resurgence began with a third-round retirement victory over Gabriel Martinez before Garces followed up by stopping Jose Cedeno in three rounds and then defeating Wilmer Garzon by unanimous decision over eight rounds.
Those three victories have transformed the outlook for a fighter who spent much of the past three years accepting difficult assignments against home favorites and rising prospects.
Garces has boxed in Colombia, England, Italy, Switzerland, Belgium, Ireland, Poland, Latvia, France and the Czech Republic during a relentless schedule that saw experience valued more highly than protecting his record.
Remarkable Turnaround
At 23, Garces suddenly finds himself on the longest winning run of his career, ranked seventh among Colombia’s super welterweights and closing in on a national title shot.
It would represent a remarkable turnaround for a fighter who went undefeated in his first seven bouts before enduring three years without a victory.
Garces may finally have turned a corner. The challenge now is resisting the temptation to return to the road-fighter role that damaged his record in the first place.
For a boxer who had already suffered 43 defeats before his 24th birthday, three straight victories represent far more than a winning streak.
They offer proof that even after 43 defeats, a boxing career doesn’t always have to end the way everyone expects.
About the Author
Phil Jay is the Editor-in-Chief of World Boxing News (WBN), a BWAA-acknowledged boxing news website founded in 2010. A veteran boxing reporter with 16 years of experience, he has interviewed world champions, broken international exclusives, and reported ringside from major events. His work is published worldwide through WBN and distributed on platforms including Apple News.
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