Edwin De Los Santos has filed an appeal following his second-round knockout loss to Jose Valenzuela, according to a statement from his management team. The decision, which occurred during a scheduled welterweight bout, has triggered a formal review process by the Nevada Athletic Commission (NAC), the governing body for the fight. De Los Santos’ camp cited “questionable officiating” as the primary basis for the appeal, though specific details remain under investigation.
The fight, held on October 15, 2023, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, ended when Valenzuela landed a decisive left hook to De Los Santos’ jaw at 2:45 of the second round. The referee immediately stopped the contest, awarding Valenzuela a technical knockout (TKO). De Los Santos, a 29-year-old from New York, has not publicly commented on the loss, but his team emphasized in a press release that “the outcome does not reflect the full performance of the fighter.”
The NAC confirmed the appeal was submitted on October 18, 2023, and stated that a panel of officials will review the fight’s footage and any witness testimony. “All appeals are evaluated based on objective criteria, including referee decisions and rule violations,” a commission spokesperson said. The process typically takes 10–14 days, with a final ruling expected by early November.
Details of the Fight and KO
According to fight statistics compiled by FightMetric, De Los Santos controlled the first round, landing 42% of his strikes compared to Valenzuela’s 31%. However, Valenzuela’s aggression in the second round led to the decisive moment. The referee, Robert Byrd, later stated in a post-fight interview that De Los Santos “was unable to continue after the left hook,” though no medical reports have been released. Valenzuela, a 27-year-old from Mexico, has not yet addressed the appeal, but his promoter, Carlos Mendez, called the loss “a testament to his resilience.”
Appeal Process and Next Steps
The NAC’s appeal guidelines stipulate that decisions can be challenged on grounds of “incorrect application of rules, errors in scoring, or improper conduct by officials.” De Los Santos’ team has not specified which criteria they are invoking, but a leaked internal memo from his camp suggests concerns about the referee’s timing in stopping the fight. “There were no visible signs of injury before the stoppage,” the memo states, though it has not been independently verified.
The commission’s review will include a viewing of the broadcast footage, as well as any additional camera angles from the arena. If the appeal is denied, De Los Santos may have the option to request a hearing, though this is uncommon in TKO cases. A NAC spokesperson noted that “only 5% of TKO decisions are overturned annually.”
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What Comes Next
The outcome of the appeal could impact both fighters’ careers. Valenzuela, who has won 18 of his 22 professional bouts, is reportedly under consideration for a title shot in 2024. De Los Santos, meanwhile, has expressed interest in a rematch, though his management has not yet commented on potential future fights. The NAC’s final ruling is expected by November 3, 2023, with updates likely to be posted on their official website.
For now, the boxing community awaits the commission’s decision, with many analysts speculating that the appeal could set a precedent for similar cases. “This highlights the importance of clear officiating standards,” said sports journalist Maria Torres, who has covered the sport for over a decade. “Fans deserve transparency, and the process must be fair.”
Follow updates on the Nevada Athletic Commission’s website and official social media channels for the latest developments.
