Move to Las Vegas benefits super bantamweight Alexis Santiago

Life is good for Alexis Santiago, inside and outside the ring.

The 25-year-old super bantamweight from Phoenix is riding a nine-fight winning streak entering Tuesday's bout with Erik Ruiz at Sam's Town Live in the 10-round main event of the Premier Boxing Champions card on Fox Sports 1 and Fox Deportes.

"We've been improving and getting better each fight," Santiago said. "I'm getting good work in in the gym, and I've been carrying it over to the fight."

He teamed with noted trainer Ismael Salas last year and moved to Las Vegas to work with him.

"He's very smart," Santiago said. "He doesn't try to change your style. He works with what you've got, and he has polished up some things with me with my footwork and how and when I throw my punches. I'm very comfortable working with him."

Santiago (20-3-1, eight knockouts) said he will be ready to go the distance with Ruiz (15-4, six KOs).

"He's a durable fighter," Santiago said. "He went the distance with Jessie Magdaleno, who is very good, so I'm not underestimating Ruiz. But I believe I'm the better fighter, and I will show everyone Tuesday."

Santiago remembers early in his career when he would come to Las Vegas and fight at The Orleans or the Rio on promoter Frank Luca's boxing cards. He was an 18-year-old then. But he showed he had heart and could fight.

"I learned a lot from those fights," Santiago said. "I learned to be an action fighter because that's what promoters want and what the fans want to see. But I also learned to be smart and control the action. I appreciated Frank Luca giving me a chance."

Now, he has aligned himself with Al Haymon and PBC and hopes to get a world title shot.

"This will give me more exposure," Santiago said, "and as long as I keep taking care of my business and look good winning, I believe it will happen."

The first bell is scheduled for 4:15 p.m. The first televised bout is scheduled for 6.

• STATE GOLDEN GLOVES — The Nevada State Golden Gloves tournament will be contested today and Sunday in the main ballroom of Santa Fe Station.

About 30 athletes are expected to compete for a spot in the Western Regionals on March 19 and 20 at Santa Fe Station. The regional winners will advance to the National Golden Gloves Tournament of Champions from May 16 to 21 in Salt Lake City.

The first bell for today and Sunday is scheduled for 3 p.m. Admission is $10.

• WARD FIGHT SET — Andre Ward's first fight as a full-fledged light heavyweight is set for March 26 at Oracle Arena in Oakland, California, where the former world super middleweight champion faces Sullivan Barrera on an HBO-televised card.

Ward (28-0, 15 KOs) moved up in weight in June, when he made his debut for Roc Nation Sports and handled Paul Smith with ease. The fight was at a catchweight of 172 pounds.

A win over Barrera (17-0, 12 KOs) should position Ward for a fall fight against Sergey Kovalev, who has three of the four sanctioning body belts.

• BARRY FUNDRAISER — Pat Barry, owner of Barry's Boxing Center, has come up with a unique fundraiser to help offset the costs of running the gym.

Barry will work the corner of any pro fighter as either a trainer, a second or a cutman and is not asking to be paid. Instead, he wants any compensation to be made as a charitable contribution to the club, which enjoys 501(c) nonprofit status.

"There's a lot of overhead to running the gym, and this is one way to help with the expenses," Barry said. "But it doesn't even have to be a local fighter. It can be anyone who needs an experienced hand in his corner."

Anyone interested can contact Barry at 702-368-2696.

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow him on Twitter: @stevecarprj