VILLANUEVA-MENDEZ ON PINOY PRIDE 34: EXPECT A KNOCKOUT
By Dong Secuya
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 26 Nov 2015
LAPULAPU CITY ? Filipino title contender 'King' Arthur Villanueva is expecting his fight against Victor 'Spock' Mendez of Mexico this Saturday at the Hoops Dome here will end in a knockout. ?This fight will not go the distance,? Villanueva told the media during the final press conference of the 34th edition of the highly successful 'Pinoy Pride' series held at the Fiesta Bay Asian Restaurant here Thursday afternoon.
Villanueva (27-1-0, 14KO) whose only blemish on his record was a loss against McJoe Arroyo of Puerto Rico for the IBF super flyweight title last July 18, will face knockout artist Mendez (19-2-2, 15KO) for the WBC international super flyweight title. The Villanueva-Mendez fight has upgraded to the main event after Melindo's original opponent Carlos Fontes, also of Mexico, backed out of their WBO junior flyweight championship fight after being diagnosed of dengue. Melindo will face replacement Victor Emmanuel Olivo, also of Mexico for a 10-round non-title fight.
Asked whether being on the main card will affect his fight, Villanueva said he was ?nervous at first because I don't know what will be the reaction of the public. But I'm not thinking about that now, I'm just focusing on the fight this Saturday.?
For his part, Mendez, out of Hermosillo in Sonora, Mexico, said through an interpreter ?I have much respect for the Philippines. But it is to our best interest to bring the title to Mexico and we'll make sure the result of this fight is not in doubt.?
Villanueva (L) and Mendez (R) and with ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer (center, top photo) during Thursday's presscon at the Fiesta Bay Asian Restaurant in Lapulapu City.
Melindo (L) and Olivo.
Melindo (32-2-0, 12KO), who got frustrated twice in two world title fights, had to deal with a sudden change in opponent a few days before the fight. ?My preparation was for [Carlos] Fontes. This is the difficulty now because my opponent has changed. I don't know his style. I don't have a plan how to fight him. I have prepared for an opponent who is a southpaw, but my opponent now [Olivo] is right handed. Fontes was tall but Olivo is short,? Melindo lamented. ?But even then, I'll try to make this Pinoy Pride event this Saturday the best Pinoy Pride in history,? Melindo added.
Olivo (9-0-0, 4KO), who had a scheduled fight on Dec. 5 before he got a call to fight Melindo a few days ago, said ?This will be a tough fight, this will be a struggle. But I trained hard and I am young and confident. I expect a good fight and will go back to Mexico still undefeated.?
FARIS NENGGO REVEALS SECRET
Indonesian Faris Nenggo (10-8-3, 3KO) whose biggest career win was against former world champion Merlito Sabillo one year ago and who will face amateur standout Kevin Jake Cataraja on Cataraja's second professional fight this Saturday, revealed what gave him the power to beat Sabillo.
?He ate a lot of balut to beat Sabillo,? Nenggo's manager Jeffrey Pamungkas told the Filipino media who burst into laughter. Balut is a Filipino food delicacy from a fertilized duck egg that is boiled and eaten in the shell ?that makes the world scream? according to CNN.
Pamungkas also revealed that Nenggo lost his last fight in April in Haiko, China against Filipino contender Froilan Saludar because, aside from Nenggo's lack of training, well, there was no balut available in China. Surely Neggo will have a lot of it before he enters the ring against Cataraja Saturday night.
For his part, Cataraja said he can't be careless against Nenggo who is a veteran. ?I have no prediction how this fight will end but I promise people will enjoy our fight,? Cataraja said.
Kevin Jake Cataraja (L) and Faris Neggo of Indonesia.
AJ 'Bazooka' Banal and Emilio Norfat of Tanzania.
Also on the card is comebacking AJ 'Bazooka' Banal (33-2-1, 22KO) who will face Emilio 'Prince Kilimanjaro' Norfat (25-6-0, 19KO) of Tanzania in a ten-round featherweight non-title fight as he continue to build momentum for another title run. Banal won five straight after losing to Thailand's Pungluang Sor Singyu for the WBO bantamweight title on Oct. 20, 2012. Norfat recently lost to Allan Kamote, also of Tanzania, for the UBO world lightweight title. He also had losses when he fought for the IBF and WBO regional titles, both against Immanuel Naijala in 2012 and 2013.
Rocky 'Road Warrior' Fuentes (35-8-2, 20KO) faces Afrizal Tamboresi of Indonesia in an 8-round super flyweight non-title bout. Fuentes had back to back losses for world title fights, against Amnat Ruengroeng of Thailand on Jan. 22, 2014 for the IBF world flyweight title and against No. 1 pound for pound fighter on the planet Roman Gonzalez of Nicaragua on Nov. 22, 2014 for the WBC flyweight crown. Tamboresi's record, according to boxrec.com, is 3 wins against 1 loss. He last fought and lost to Brad Hore of Australia for the WBF Asia-Pacific super flyweight title on May 23, 2015.
Also on the card are Melvin Jakosalem of Bukidnon vs Crison Omayao, also of Bukidnon, for 10-round minimumweight not-title bout; Cris Ganoza of Leyte vs Roga Libres of Bohol for 6 round minimumweight bout; and Christian Bacolod of Cebu vs Allan Garin of Bukidnon for 4-round junior flyweight bout.
The official weighin for 'Pinoy Pride 34 - Back with a Vengeance' is set for tomorrow, Friday, at the Gaisano Capital Mactan starting at 11:30 a.m.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Dong Secuya.
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