KING ARTHUR VILLANUEVA BELIEVES THIS IS IT
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 15 Jul 2015
Undefeated OPBF super flyweight champion ?King? Arthur Villanueva believes ?this is it? as far as his chances of winning a world title when he battles unbeaten Puerto Rican southpaw and former Olympian McJoe Arroyo at the Don Haskins Convention Center in El Paso, Texas on Sunday, Manila Time.
In an overseas telephone interview with the New Standard/boxingmirror.com, Villanueva who has a record of 27-0 with 14 knockouts and is 26 years old said there will be ?no next time. We need this title now.?
Lead trainer Edmund Villamor who arrived in El Paso after handling WBO light flyweight champion Donnie ?Ahas? Nietes in his masterful victory over former world minimum weight champion and mandatory challenger Francisco Rodriguez last Saturday in Cebu confidently predicted ?we will win? and pointed out that McJoe Arroyo ?is a fighter like Marco Demecillo which is good and is what King Arthur likes.?
Edito ?Ala? Villamor who spent two weeks with Villanueva as he tapered down at the Wild Card Gym of celebrated trainer Freddie Roach in Los Angeles told us, King Arthur ?is ready and has had a good preparation for this fight.?
He said strength and conditioning coach Nick Curson ?checked him out before we left for El Paso and said ?he?s doing fine, doing great? after working with him in Cebu for two weeks.
Villamor won?t underestimate Arroyo and said ?it?s a fifty-fifty fight? but if Villanueva ?follows the game-plan and capitalizes on McJoe?s mistakes? he should be fine.
The trainer added that in terms of power both fighters are the same but it would ?depend on who connects first? with a solid shot.
McJoe Arroyo, a former Olympian with a record of 16-0 with 8 knockouts described Villanueva as a crafty fighter.
McJoe Arroyo proved he belonged on the world stage by winning two IBF eliminators in 2014. He traveled to Mexico last summer and scored an impressive 11th round TKO over former flyweight champion Hernan ?Tyson? Marquez and followed it up with another fine showing against Filipino Mark Anthony Geraldo to move up to No. 9 in the Ring ratings while Villanueva is ranked No. 6.
Asked about his thoughts on facing Villanueva, McJoe who arrived with his identical twin brother McWilliams Arroyo in El Paso, replied ?I?m happy that I?m going to get a title shot. I?m fighting a competitive fighter and I?m preparing myself for a competitive fight. I want him to be well prepared because I will be well prepared for this fight.?
Photo: Villanueva (R) with trainers Edito (L) and Edmund (C) Villamor upon arrival at El Paso, Texas.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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