Santiago debuted as a professional in 2000, and is the current World Boxing Council Caribbean Featherweight Champion.

He went on to represent Puerto Rico in many amateur tournaments including the 1999 Pan-Am games in Canada where he lost a close decision for the bronze medal.

In Penssylvania he trained with Barry Strumph and Syd Brumbach and, in 2004, he signed with Gary Shaw Productions where his career blossomed fighting 7 times in 2004.

Santiago Figueroa returned to his Amateur trainer Jose “Pancha” Aneiro and was back in the ring on October 8, 2005, scoring a 3rd-round KO and 2 weeks later he was the Shobox co-feature bout against the IBF #15 ranked featherweight contender Cornelius “Master” Lock at the Chumash Casino in California.

He remained inactive until February 1, 2008, when he was scheduled to fight Edel Ruiz, whom he defeated by knockout in the first round.

[1] Steven Luevano's victory against Antonio Davis and Terdsak Jandaeng was tested in his third defense on June 28, 2008, night's David Diaz-Manny Pacquiao undercard at Mandalay Bay Events Center.