OPBF CHAMPION FUENTES DEFENDS TITLE IN CEBU
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 19 Nov 2010
Hard-hitting Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation champion Rocky Fuentes defends his title before hometown fans for the first time since becoming champion in the supporting main event of ?PINOY PRIDE 2: Best of the Best? at the Waterfront Hotel and Casino in Cebu on November 27.
Fuentes will end a highly successful year fighting before a hometown crowd since winning the title from highly touted Japanese champion Masafumi Okubo at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo last March 9. That win rejuvenated the career of Fuentes.
Fuentes proved his worth by successfully defending his title twice this year in Tokyo with an 11th round TKO over Shigetaka Ikehara in Tokyo last June 5 which was regarded as a ?Fight of the Year? candidate in Japan and recently scored a classic 8th round TKO over tough Yasuto Aritomi in Nagoya last September 5.
The rousing victories of Fuentes in which he defeated his Japanese opponents in their home country has earned him the nickname of the ?Road Warrior.?
Fuentes from the famed ALA Gym has a record of 27-6 with 17 and has been one of the busiest fighters this year. In his final bout of 2010, Fuentes will battle Thailand?s rugged Inthanon Sithchamuang (9-2, 3 KO?s) on the mega boxing event ?PINOY PRIDE 2? to be telecast by ABS-CBN.
Fuentes said ?I really am very excited for this fight as I have not fought here in Cebu since early of this year.?I want to prove not just to anybody but to myself that I belong here and that I can succeed and remain champion for a long time. It has been almost a year since I last fought here and I would like to thank Sir ALA (boxing patron Tony Aldeguer) and Sir Michael Aldeguer for the opportunities given to me.?
In the main event undefeated and world-rated Milan Melindo (22-0, 7 KO?s) will battle former IBF world flyweight champion Carlos Tamara of Colombia who won the title with a sensational 12th round TKO over Brian Viloria early this year. Melindo has vowed to avenge the loss of Viloria against the extremely talented Tamara.
The City Government of Cebu headed by Mayor Mike Rama is putting its full support behind the PINOY PRIDE series presented by ALA Promotions in cooperation with ABS-CBN Sports. The events are a determined effort in partnership with the Waterfront Hotel and Casino to make Cebu the ?Mecca? of boxing in Asia.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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