01/19/2025
Photo Credit: Ryan Hafey/Premier Boxing Champions
Edwin De Los Santos is back… finally.
The lightweight contender is gearing up for his long-awaited return to the ring this March, marking the end of a 16-month absence. According to his promoter, Sampson Lewkowicz, De Los Santos is expected to appear on the same card as unified junior middleweight champion Sebastian Fundora.
“Most likely he will fight on the same card with [Sebastian] Fundora,” Lewkowicz stated.
De Los Santos last competed in November 2023, challenging Shakur Stevenson for the vacant WBC Lightweight Championship. Despite a competitive effort, De Los Santos fell short, losing via unanimous decision. Since then, questions surrounding his lengthy hiatus have swirled within the boxing community.
In an exclusive interview with Brunch Boxing, Lewkowicz shed light on the reasons behind De Los Santos’s absence. It wasn’t merely the aftermath of a tough loss or promotional politics keeping him out of the ring. Instead, De Los Santos faced significant health challenges, including a hand injury and a potentially life-threatening medical condition.
Photo Credit: Ryan Hafey/Premier Boxing Champions
“The reason he has not fought for over a year is because first of all, he hurt one of his hands in training,” Lewkowicz explained. “Then he had a blood clot in the leg. That took six months to get back to normal. That [the blood clot] can kill anybody.”
De Los Santos’s extended time away from the sport sparked criticism from fans and pundits, many of whom speculated that his inactivity stemmed from internal promotional issues following his loss to Stevenson. However, Lewkowicz was quick to dismiss these claims, emphasizing his commitment to his fighter’s well-being over financial considerations.
“People talk, ‘Why he’s not busy?’” Lewkowicz said. “Because it’s more important for me, the health of my fighter, than the money.”
The severity of De Los Santos’s medical crisis had never been publicly reported until now. His blood clot diagnosis was a serious and potentially fatal condition that required six months of recovery before he could even consider returning to training. This revelation contrasts sharply with the rampant speculation that De Los Santos was sidelined due to his loss to Stevenson or disputes with his promotional team.
Social media had been awash with theories about why De Los Santos remained inactive, with some accusing Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) of shelving him after his loss. Among the critics was Shakur Stevenson himself, who went as far as to suggest signing De Los Santos to his own promotional company if PBC no longer had plans for him.
Photo Credit: Mikey Williams/Top Rank Boxing
“These people, they talk in boxing,” Lewkowicz said, addressing the rumors. “Anybody can be a reporter and say things. Like in this case, Stevenson said, ‘Oh, this guy didn’t fight, I will sign him.’ It’s all bullshit.”
Lewkowicz dismissed the idea that De Los Santos’s career was mishandled or stagnant, pointing out that the delay in his return was due entirely to factors beyond their control.
With a clean bill of health and his promoter fully backing him, De Los Santos is finally poised to resume his career. His name has already been linked to a potential matchup with former lightweight contender Frank Martin.
For De Los Santos, his March return represents more than just another fight—it’s a chance to reestablish himself in the ranks after overcoming not just career setbacks but life-threatening adversity.
As Lewkowicz emphasized, “The health of my fighter comes first. Now that he’s healthy, we’re ready to make noise again.”
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Great update!
Very informative