Luis Santana | “The boxing saved me”

“Guys like Luis Santana, who lived everything he could live, there is one in 9000 who managed to get out of it. Therefore, »»

Posted at 6:00 a.m.

These words are those of the Steven Butler boxer. Consequently, He knows Luis Santana, another professional fighter, since he “wears diapers”. Therefore, The two got out of misery thanks to boxing.

When they were 6 and 8 years old, they spent their evenings at Parc Sainte-Bernadette, in the district of Rosemont-the Petite-Patrie. For example, “Even if he was very small, Luis stayed with the others very late at night. Similarly, He luis santana | “the boxing was not going in the right direction, ”recalls Butler. Therefore, “Everyone smoked marijuana, drinking beers. Meanwhile, Luis and I were perhaps the only ones not to consume. However, »»

Luis Santana gives us an appointment at the Sainte-Bernadette Park. Nevertheless, His story, he tells luis santana | “the boxing it with detachment. Meanwhile, As if she was harmless. Moreover, She is at the bottom, in her eyes, since her harsh reality, it is the only one he knew.

Stomach – Luis santana | "the boxing

His father is Dominican. Meanwhile, He only met him in the flesh last year. However, His Colombian mother arrived in Canada in her youth. Moreover, She was counting on a few family here. Meanwhile, Little help, to raise her six children.

The clan regularly called for food aid to provide for its needs. Similarly, And there were many conflicts, between the mother, the family’s stepfather and the children. However, So that around the age of 8, Luis left the house, to live with two of his older brothers, barely adults.

“They were nice, but did not know how to take care luis santana | “the boxing of a child. However, It was difficult for them. Nevertheless, they already had to work so that we could live, ”recalls Luis Santana, now 29 years old.

During these years, Luis spent a lot of time at Parc Sainte-Bernadette. For example, There he flirted with crime.

“I made big bullshit,” he lets glimpse. Therefore, “All my friends in the neighborhood, we did a little less moral things. »»

Even before entering secondary school, Luis often fought, for example. “I regulated conflicts. I calmed people who were looking for the disorder. I just wanted to protect young people from my youth district, who wanted to fuck shit, ”he explains.

To channel his frustration, Luis’ brothers contemplate the idea of registering him in the soccer. They quickly realize that the activity is too expensive. Boxing is then essential.

No one at the Santana practiced this sport. But at the champion boxing club, the family finds a known face: Steven Butler.

Evacuate the rage – Luis santana | "the boxing

From his first jabsButler took the 13 -year -old teenager under his wing. “I saw that it was a guy who loved adrenaline. It joined me a lot: when you like adrenaline, sometimes, it will take you to make bad shots. Boxing calmed him, ”thinks Butler.

From his first training sessions, Luis experienced a “bizarre” feeling. “It was strange to think that you could fight, in a framed way. I loved it. »»

“Outside the gym, I felt less anger. I started to be wiser, to become disciplined, ”he recalls.

Even if he learns to stay away from trouble, Luis is not at his last periods of turbulence. Given the tense family climate in which he lives. the DPJ demands that he spend a few days a week at the youth center.

“I did not feel at all comfortable there,” he admits. “I felt that I lost control over my life. »»

Boxing was, once again, its outlet. When he trained or fought outside, Luis was exempt from going to the center.

“Boxing saved me,” he summarizes. “I was going to be as often as possible at the gym. I was trying to win as much as possible, to make as much fighting as possible. This is where I learned discipline. »»

His natural talent leads him to represent Canada among international amateurs. In 120 fights, he obtained nearly 100 victories.

Its renewed discipline spreads to school benches. Just before qualifying for the Tokyo Olympic Games, Luis finished his secondary studies, at the age of 22.

“I am the only one in my family to have my luis santana | “the boxing diploma. It is one of my greatest pride. French and English lessons, it has always been extremely difficult for me, ”underlines the one who suffers from dyslexia.

Luis santana | "the boxing

Waist

Today, Sainte-Bernadette Park has changed. Life is much calmer. That of Luis Santana too. He lives with his mother, with whom he returned.

For each boxing fight, he pockets a few thousand dollars. To make ends meet, he therefore teaches his art. He also works, at times, in construction.

His career takes off. Professional since 2020. he won his 14 fights, the last of which, against Eduardo Estela (17-4-0) at the Videotron Center, out of combat in the fifth round.

“I made a magnificent fight,” he said. “All the spectators were on the end luis santana | “the boxing of their chair. »»

This overwhelming victory, Luis needed it. His previous duel, although won by unanimous decision, had somewhat tainted his course sheet.

He was then opposed to Sebastian Ezequiel Aguirre (19-5-0), at the Casino du Lac-Leamy, in Gatineau. From the first round, Santana fell to the carpet twice. It was the first time that he had dropped him, since his beginnings with amateurs.

“I didn’t even have time to blink at the luis santana | “the boxing start of the fight, and I was on the ground. I have overturned. I got up, and I fell immediately, ”he says.

If Santana had fallen a third time in this first round, an automatic defeat would have been awarded to him. His career would have suffered greatly. This fatality he knew her.

Luis Santana was hot. His two most recent victories allow him to dream of big. He clearly sent his intentions to his promoter, Camille Estephan, for the coming months.

luis santana | “the boxing

“I want to fight for a belt by the end of the year. I go up in the rankings quietly, I think it’s realistic. I go there a fight at a time, keeping my ultimate goal in my head: becoming world champion, “he says.

Luis Santana’s career is young. Very clever who predicted his ability to fulfill his dream, or not.

Steven Butler believes in it.

“It is realistic. because the path that Luis must travel to a world championship is much shorter than the one he has traveled to get out of the street,” he concludes.