CAN THE ROAD WARRIOR DELIVER?
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 20 Jan 2014
Rocky Fuentes (35-6-2, 20KO?s) of the ALA Gym arrived in Thailand over the weekend for his shot at the vacant IBF world flyweight title against Thai Amnat Ruenroeng (11-0, 5 KO?s).
This will be the first world title shot for the battle-hardened Fuentes, who has fought in Thailand four times with a 3L-1D record. But this was way before he made a name for himself fighting in Japan five times - winning and defending his OPBF flyweight title. This feat earned the 27 year old Fuentes, who hails from Cebu City, the moniker ?Road Warrior?.
Promoter Aljoe Jaro updated philboxing yesterday that he is also in Thailand together with ALA Promotions VP Dennis Ca?ete.
?We were not able to attend the press conference because our flight arrived early afternoon and we had to travel to the venue,? Jaro said, ?It was held in the new gym of Promoter Jimmy Chaichotchuang of Kiet Kreerin Promotions in Bangkok.?
?We requested that Rocky will live in a hotel near the hotel so he will not travel far and get tired and the promoter graciously agreed,? Jaro stated in his e-mail, ?We are living near the Lippatapanlop Hall, the venue of the title fight. The weigh-in will be on Tuesday, at 2 in the afternoon. The boxers will be weighed again Wednesday morning and the rules state that they should not weigh more than 122 on the day of the fight.?
The rules of the International Boxing Federation require that boxers should not weigh more than 10 lbs of the division limit ? in this case 112 lbs ? on the morning of the bout.
Ruenroeng is listed as 34 years old and holds the IBF Pan Pacific title. He has beaten Filipinos Julius Alcos, Wilber Andogan, Michael Rodriguez, Danilo Pena and the late Lowie Bantigue. This is a big break for both boxers ? the IBF title was let go by South Africa?s Moruti Mthalane who refused to fight in Thailand.
Photo: The Philippines' Rocky Fuentes (L) and Thailand's Amnat Ruenroeng (R) pose with Thai promoter Jimmy Chaichotchuang of Kiet Kreerin Promotions during yesterday's presscon in Bangkok, Thailand.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..
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