PINOY PRIDE 19: VILLANUEVA SHOWS CLASS AGAINST DEMECILLO
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 21 Apr 2013
DAVAO CITY ? In one of the more compelling all-Filipino match-ups in recent years, ?King? Arthur Villanueva relied on his exquisite boxing skills to retain his OPBF super flyweight title by unanimous decision against Marco Demecillo Singwangcha.
It started as a tense tactical battle, Villanueva used a consistent left jab as an offensive and defensive weapon and Demecillo pressing the action with hard hooks to the body. Villanueva circled the ring and was effective landing one-two combos from a distance. Demecillo persisted in attacking the mid-section every time he closed the distance.
As the fight progressed, Villanueva?s edge in combination punching unraveled. He used his left not just as a jab but as a sneaky uppercut that frequently caught Demecillo?s jaw. Marco remained dangerous and landed hard shots when he got inside.
In a scintillating round five, the boxers traded shot for shot at close quarters. Past the halfway mark, Villanueva continued to land the more accurate punches as Demecillo?s face started the swell. Both fighters suffered cuts but bravely traded brutal combinations.
Volume and accuracy belonged to Villanueva. Despite his investment in the body, it was Demecillo who was starting to lose pop in his punches.
With his sponsor, Thai boxing patron Naris Singwangcha and his promoter Rex ?Wakee? Salud watching him at ringside, Marco sensed he was falling was behind and decided to go for one last charge in the tenth. Demecillo?s low blow slowed his momentum as he received another warning from referee Samson Libres.
Villanueva finished strong in the championship rounds and continued the batter the fading Demecillo. The scores were lopsided as expected but it did not reflect the intense struggle inside the ring ? 118-109, 119-108, 119-108.
Villanueva?s dominant performance against a fellow undefeated fighter is persuasive evidence that he is the ALA Gym?s next star.
POSTSCRIPT:
Both boxers came into this fight in great shape. Demecillo threw body shots in the early rounds that would have killed a horse but Villanueva took the blows well. Villanueva fired head snapping uppercuts that would have knocked out most fighters but Demecillo was still on his feet at the end of the fight. Villanueva?s ring generalship was reminiscent of one of the great Filipino champions during the 1990?s, Luisito Espinosa.
The 24 year old Villanueva (20W (11KO's) - 0L) answered a lot of questions in this fight. He showed poise and toughness under pressure against one of the most feared local punchers.
Demecillo drops to18W (14 KO?s)-1L-1D. He is still 22 years old and can bounce back with more work inside the gym.
This fight was on the undercard of Pinoy Pride 19 at the USEP Gym which was Rey ?BoomBoom? Bautista go down in defeat and lose his WBO International featherweight title by split decision to Jose Ramirez of Mexico.
Top photo: Villanueva tags Demecillo.
Villanueva wins.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..
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