FUENTES BATTLES PUERTO RICO'S MCWILLIAMS ARROYO IN IBF TITLE ELIMINATOR
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 07 Jan 2014
World rated Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation flyweight champion Rocky ?The Road Warrior? Fuentes of the ALA boxing gym fights hard-hitting McWilliams Arroyo in Puerto Rico on January 25.
The 27 year old Fuentes who has a record of 35-6-2 with 20 knockouts won the OPBF title on March 9, 2010 with a majority twelve round decision over Japan?s Masafumi Okuba and has since made six successful title defenses.
Fuentes who has trained hard for this fight is aiming to win and earn a crack at world champion Moruti Mthalane of South Africa.
Fuentes who has defended his OPBF title mostly in Japan defended his title three times in 2010 scoring an 11th round TKO over Shigetak Ikehara on June 5 in Tokyo, an 8th round TKO over Yasuto Aritomi on September 5 in Nagoya and a 2nd round TKO of Thailand?s Inthanon Sitchamuang in Cebu on November 27.
He had one successful title defense on August 20, 2011 when he scored a twelve round unanimous decision over Hiirofumi Mukai before winning a twelve round unanimous decision over Myung Ho Lee of South Korea on September 22, 2012 and another twelve round unanimous decision over Yuki Nasu in Tokyo on December 18, 2012.
Fuentes is ranked No.2 by the WBC, No. 3 by the WBA, No. 5 by the IBF and No. 7 by the WBO.
The 28 year old Arroyo who has a record of 14-1 with 12 knockouts is coming off a 4th round TKO of Miguel Tamayo last February 2, 2013 following a 5th round TKO when he won the WBO title in a battle with Ronald Ramos on September 27, 2012.
McWilliams Arroyo is best known for winning the gold medal at the 2009 World Amateur Boxing Championships in Milan, Italy on September 12 and also in the 2007 Pan American Games.
He is the twin brother of boxer McJoe Arroyo. They are the second set of twins to qualify for the Olympic Games in boxing.
Arroyo?s only loss was a unanimous four round decision to Japan?s Takashi Okada at Madison Square Garden in New York on June 12, 2010.
Photo: Rocky Fuentes (R) in action.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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