Rocky Fuentes: The ALA Gym?s Other Road Warrior
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 30 Aug 2010
OPBF flyweight champion Rocky Fuentes was just one of the many boxers walking around the lobby of the Waterfront Hotel last Saturday during the Philippines vs The World fight card. He looked lean, calm and confident; the kind of quite confidence brought about by winning and retaining title belts on the road.
Fuentes told this writer that he will be leaving for Japan on September 3 and he is more than ready for second title defense this September 5 against Japanese Yasuto Aritomi. This will be his fourth fight on Japanese soil.
Four years ago, Fuentes beat Yuki Naso by split decision in a non-title bout held in Osaka. The 24 year old Fuentes (26 W-6L-2 D, 16 KO's) won the title last March 2010 with a majority decision win over Japanese Masafumi Okubo in Tokyo. His first title defense was against Shigetaka Ikehara last June also in Tokyo where he won by 11th round TKO in what Japanese boxing writers described as a possible ?Fight of the Year? in their country.
The Japanese promoters obviously want one more chance to beat him. His fight against Aritomi will be at the International Conference Hall in Nagoya. Fuentes will be accompanied on this trip by ALA Gym trainers Edito Villamor and Joseph Baldago.
This the second attempt at the Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation title for the 30 year old Aritomi (17W-1L-2D,8 KO's). He drew with Okubo two years ago in his first try to win the OPBF title.
For his efforts, Fuentes is now ranked number 10 by the WBA and number 7 by the WBC. The WBA champion is Daiki Kameda of Japan while the WBC crown is worn by Pongsaklek Wonjogkam of Thailand.
Just like his stable mate, WBO minimumweight champion Donnie Nietes, Fuentes has developed into a feared road warrior. But Cebu fight fans would also appreciate it if we can see him defend his title here at home.
(File photo ? Fuentes (left) against Pit Anacaya in a fight held during Cebu?s Sinulog 2010)
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaiman: It´s Fightweek Fight: Canelo vs. Crawford
By Mauricio Sulaimán, Wed, 10 Sep 2025Casimero comeback next month in Kyrgyzstan?
By Nick Giongco, Wed, 10 Sep 2025Team USA Concludes Day Six of 2025 World Boxing Championships
Wed, 10 Sep 2025Andrade, Garras rule Milo marathon in Tagum
Wed, 10 Sep 2025CROCKER-DONOVAN II: INSIDE LOOK AT FIRST FACE-OFF IN BELFAST
Wed, 10 Sep 2025Former Panamanian WBA champ Jorge Lujan hospitalized
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Wed, 10 Sep 2025Southern Sports Heroes Night on Sept. 28
By Lito delos Reyes, Wed, 10 Sep 2025ABAP feels WB’s growing pains
By Joaquin Henson, Wed, 10 Sep 2025Laurente is new Philippine super featherweight champ
By Lito delos Reyes, Wed, 10 Sep 2025THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 8 SEPTEMBER 2025: Nunez Outpoints Diaz; Iglesias Stops Shishkin; Valdez, Conlan Register Wins in Return
By Eric Armit, Tue, 09 Sep 2025Dante Kirkman Stays Undefeated Triumphing with Dominant Unanimous Decision Win
Tue, 09 Sep 2025Dream fight for Steven Sumpter vs. Undefeated Bek Nurmaganbet This Wednesday at Fontainebleau Las Vegas during ‘Canelo vs. Crawford’ Week
Tue, 09 Sep 2025Yoseline Perez and Malachi Georges Advance to Quarterfinals with Wins on Day Five of World Boxing Championships
Tue, 09 Sep 2025GM candidate Ronald Dableo's squad rules Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso Inter-Barangay Chess Team Tournament, pockets P150,000
By Marlon Bernardino, Tue, 09 Sep 2025Saggap, Manayon top Heritage Aquathlon
By Lito delos Reyes, Tue, 09 Sep 2025