PINOY PRIDE 34: VILLANUEVA, MELINDO WIN BY SPLIT DECISIONS OVER THEIR MEXICAN RIVALS
By Dong Secuya
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 29 Nov 2015
LAPULAPU CITY ? 'King' Arthur Villanueva of the Philippines won by split decision over Victor 'Spock' Mendez of Mexico to capture the WBC international super flyweight title in 'Pinoy Pride 34: Back with a Vengeance' at the rain-soaked Hoops Dome here Saturday night.
Filipino judge Benigno Pe?afiel had it 116-112 for Villanueva, Filipino judge Samson Libres had it 117-111 for Villanueva and Mexican judge Humberto Olivarez had it 115-113 for Mendez.
The fight turned into a tactical fight the whole night as neither fighter wanted to mix it up. Both Villanueva and Mendez had their moments during the fight with Villanueva mostly scoring with his overhand rights and Mendez scoring with right and left counters. Villanueva had a big ninth round when he connected with a right uppercut on Mendez that staggered the Mexican and then followed it up with a hard right.
With the win, Villanueva improves to 28-1-0 with 14 stoppages while Mendez dropped to 12-3-2.
Arthur Villanueva captures the vacant WBC super flyweight belt by defeating Victor Mendez by split decision Saturday night at the Hoops Dome in Lapulapu City.
Milan Melindo (R) engages a war of attrition against Victor Emanuel Olivo.
27-year-old, 35-fight veteran and two-time world title challenger Milan 'El Metodico' Milendo got into a real fight with 19-year-old Mexican Victor Emanuel Olivo, who had only 9 fights before Saturday's event, and needed a big 8th and 9th rounds to escape with a split decision victory.
Melindo, who prepared for two months against a lefty and rangy opponent in Carlos Fontes who withdraw only a few days before the fight, had to box by instinct against the orthodox and shorter Olivo.
Olivo, who is trained by Jose Alfredo Caballero, the trainer of world champion Juan Francisco Estrada who beat Melindo in Macau in 2013, made good use of his trainer's knowledge to frustrate Melindo from dominating the fight, dishing out effective combinations to neutralize Melindo.
After Melindo controlled the opening round with his patented right-left crosses and uppercuts, Olivo came back strong in the second round, timing Melindo beautifully with his own counters and immediately the fight was transformed into a war of attrition with neither fighter able to dominate but plenty of torrid exchanges as the fight went forward until Melindo connected with a hard right in the 8th round that staggered Olivo and followed it up with a dominant 9th round. But Olivo refused to wilt under pressure and snatched the last round.
Judges Salven Lagumbay and Edgar Olalo scored 96-94 in favor of Melindo while judge Edward Ligas gave the nod to Olivo, 96-94. All three judges gave Melindo the 8th and 9th rounds while Olivo got the 10th round from the three judges as well.
Melindo now improves to 33-2-0 with 12 knockouts while Olive suffered his first defeat in 10 fights.
Kevin Jake Cataraja (R) and Faris Nenggo.
Kevin Jake Cataraja (PH) (1-0-0, 1KO) vs Faris Nenggo (Indonesia) (10-8-3, 3KO)
6 rounds 112 lbs
Kevin Jake 'KJ' Cataraja, in only his second professional fight, gave a good beatdown on Faris Nenggo of Indonesia and scored an impressive 4th round stoppage win and avenged the loss suffered by former world champion and stablemate Merlito Sabillo at the hands of Nenggo one year ago.
Starting out fast right from the opening bell, Cataraja connected with a bunch of punches to the retreating Indonesian, breaking the nose of Nenggo in the process and followed it up with a liver shot that sent Nenggo to the canvas right in the very first round.
In the second round, somehow Nenggo neutralized Catarajas's aggressiveness with his own counters but in the third, Cataraja resumed the punishment and inflicted a cut on Nenggo's left eyebrow. As blood drips from Nenggo's face, Referee Nick Banal called the ring physician twice to check on Nenggo's cuts and the ring physician finally recommended to stop the fight at 2:43 in the 4th round.
Cataraja registered his second knockout victory in as many fights while Nenggo dropped to 10-9-3.
AJ Banal (R) and Tanzania's Emilio Norfat.
AL 'Bazooka' Banal (PH) (33-2-1, 22KO) vs Emilio Norfat (Tanzania) (25-6-0, 19KO)
10 rounds 126 lbs
AJ 'Bazooka' Banal added another W in his comeback run when he stopped Emilio Norfat of Tanzania in the 3rd round of their 10 round featherweight bout.
Banal connected with a hard left to Norfat's kisser a few seconds from the opening bell that sent the Tanzanian to the canvas although Norfat immediately got up for the count. Banal continued to attack in the second but the game Tanzanian threw his own combinations that sometimes momentarily stopped Banal on his tracks and even inflicted a cut on Banal's left eyebrow that was caused by a punch and aggravated by a headbutt. In the 3rd round Banal scored another knockdown but the rangy Norfat again immediately got up for the count. Banal went on to score a series of unanswered punches before Referee Teddy Alivio waived off the contest of a TKO victory by Banal at 1:41 of the 3rd round.
Banal now upped his record to 34-2-1 with 23 knockouts while Norfat dropped to 25-7-0.
Fuentes drops Tamboresi of Indonesia.
Comebacking Rocky 'The Road Warrior' Fuentes (36-8-2, 21KO), whose last outing was a stoppage defeat against No. 1 pound for pound Roman Gonzalez of Nicaragua on Nov. 22, 2014, made short work of the plodding Indonesian Afrizal Tamboresi (11-4-0, 6KO). Fuentes connected with a looping overhand right in the second round with the Indonesian unable to beat the count.
In the curtain raisers:
Melvin 'Gringo' Jersusalem (8-0-0, 7KO) of Bukidnon displayed good hand speed and quick counters by stopping Crison Omayao (17-11-3, 5KO), also of Bukidnon, in the second round of their scheduled 10-round minimumweight bout. Jerusalem connected with a crushing right uppercut to Omayao's solar plexus that left Omayao gasping for breath in he was out for the count at 2:30 in the second round.
In battle of youth vs experience Chris Gonzaga, 21, (7-0-0, 1KO) of Matalom, Leyte defeated aging veteran Fabio Marfa, 36, (25-28-4, 12KO) by unanimous decision. All three scored 58-56 in Gonzaga's favor.
Christian Bacolod (Cebu City) (2-0-0, 2KO) vs Delfin de Asis (Bukidnon) (2-2-0, 2KO)
4 rounds 108 lbs
In the opening bout Christian Bacolod (3-0-0, 3KO) of Cebu City stopped Delfin de Asis (2-3-0, 2KO) of Bukidnon in the first round with a crushing hook to the liver at 2:30 of the round.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Dong Secuya.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Three Pinoy Fighters in Crucial Bouts This December
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Thu, 28 Nov 2024Camp Notes: Oscar Valdez & Emanuel Navarrete Prepared for Phoenix Firefight on December 7 LIVE on ESPN
Thu, 28 Nov 2024Mabuhay at Salamat: Long Live and Thanks
By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, Thu, 28 Nov 2024TODAY: Rolly Fogoum vs Obinna Mathew for WBF Cruise World Title; Toshihiko Era vs Chonlahee for ABF Belt in Highland Show in Thailand
By Carlos Costa, Thu, 28 Nov 2024The Final Word: Legendary Rematches of Mexican Boxing Premieres Ahead of Emanuel Navarrete-Oscar Valdez II
Thu, 28 Nov 2024Swedish heavyweight Genti Morina Set for Professional Debut in Denmark
Thu, 28 Nov 2024SPORTS SHORTS 286: CHARLY SUAREZ, MARK MAGSAYO, JOHN RIEL CASIMERO, AND CARL JAMMIS MARTIN IN WBO RANKINGS
By Maloney L. Samaco, Wed, 27 Nov 2024Pinoy Fighter Blazen Rocili Remains Unbeaten with Dominant Victory in San Antonio, TX
Wed, 27 Nov 2024Filipino IM Garma trounce foes, stay in hunt for top finish
By Marlon Bernardino, Wed, 27 Nov 2024Camp Notes: Rafael Espinoza & Robeisy Ramirez Primed for Fight of The Year Sequel December 7 LIVE on ESPN
Wed, 27 Nov 2024Chicharito, Colocha & Manimal Take Center Stage Friday Night on ESPN KO
Wed, 27 Nov 2024Kansas super middleweight prospect 19-year-old Marco “El Tiburón” Romero Capped incredible 12-month boxing stretch
Wed, 27 Nov 2024The Past Week in Action 25 November 2024: Papot KOs Wagner; Guerfi Stops Le Couviour
By Eric Armit, Tue, 26 Nov 2024El Presidente, Grand Maestro, Kamatyas, Flash Arca and Gwapings to grace the 49th IIEE ANC and Golden sports on November 28 to 30 at SMX Pasay City
By Marlon Bernardino, Tue, 26 Nov 2024DC judokas win 3 golds, 1 silver in Batang Pinoy
By Lito delos Reyes, Tue, 26 Nov 2024