KING ARTHUR VILLANUEVA FACES THE FIGHT OF HIS LIFE
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 08 Jan 2015
Undefeated super flyweight multi-titled champion King Arthur Villanueva faces the fight of his life when he battles former world flyweight champion and newly crowned Mexican bantamweight champion Julio Cesar ?Pingo? Miranda in an exciting ALA Promotions fight card in the 29th edition of the immensely successful ?Pinoy Pride? series, in cooperation with the giant broadcast network ABS-CBN at the University of Southeastern Philippines Gymnasium in Davao City on February 7.
ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer told the Manila Standard/Viva Sports that he wants to see whether Villanueva really has the caliber to earn a world title shot, noting that although he won his last two fights, he wasn?t particularly impressive.
Villanueva won the vacant IBF International super flyweight title with a split decision win over Henry Maldonado before a turn-away crowd at the International World Trade Center in Dubai on September 5 last year after getting past Fernando Aguilar in a ten round decision on March 1, 2014.
However, Villanueva was outstanding in his 1st round demolition of Edgar Martinez in which he dropped Martinez twice to win the vacant WBO International super flyweight title on October 26, 2013 and was just as impressive when he scored a 4th round TKO over Arturo Badillo to win the vacant WBO Asia Pacific title on July 13, 2013.
Villanueva also won the Oriental Pacific Boxing Federation title on December 19, 2012 beating Japan?s Taiki Eto in Tokyo and in a memorable, action-packed title defense at the venue he is returning to in Davao, scored a twelve round unanimous decision over rugged Marco Demecillo.
But the veteran Miranda, the former world champion, is an altogether different proposition and although he is 34 years old with a record of 38-11-2 with 29 knockouts, he has fought some of the best in his career including Brian Viloria to whom he lost the WBO flyweight title on July 16, 2011 in Honolulu.
Miranda won the Mexican bantamweight crown with a majority decision over Fernando Aguilar last November 14 who was beaten by Villanueva in a ten round bout last year.
In one of his finest showings Miranda gave former light flyweight and flyweight world champion Hugo Fidel Cazares a huge scare before losing in a WBC International super bantamweight title fight on December 7, 2013.
Boxing Scene?s Jake Donovan reported that Miranda ?forced the action and landed the far more telling blows and refused to take a backward step at any point in the fight.? He said that after Cazares turned things around in the middle rounds, ?Pingo? Miranda ?brawled his way back into the fight by the eighth round.?
Donovan noted that Miranda had also dropped a heartbreaking majority decision to former flyweight champion Hugo Ruiz.
Miranda?s career includes a 5th round TKO win over Filipino Richie Mepranum in a clash for the vacant WBO flyweight title on June 12, 2010 in which Miranda dropped Mepranum once in round four and twice in round five en route to the win. He also retained the title with a 4th round TKO of Ardin Diale who is currently the Philippine flyweight champion on February 26, 2011, dropping the Filipino once in round three and twice in round four although he was dropped by Diale in the opening round.
Miranda also dropped a ten round unanimous decision to one time WBC light flyweight champion Rodel Mayol on May 13, 2012, providing a glimpse of the quality opponents he fought and his obvious experience which should test Villanueva who is ranked No.1 by the WBO, No. 3 by the IBF and No. 7 by the WBA, to the fullest.
Photo: Arthur Villanueva (R) defeated Marco Demecillo (L) during the 19th edition of 'Pinoy Pride' at the USEP Gym in Davao City on April 20, 2013. Villanueva returns to the same venue against former world champion Julio Cesar 'Pingo' Miranda in the 29th edition of 'Pinoy Pride' on Feb. 7. Photo by Dong Secuya.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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