SERVANIA, VILLANUEVA IN TOUGH BATTLES ON MARCH 1 AT SOLAIRE
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 29 Jan 2014
Undefeated ALA Promotions prospects, WBO Inter-Continental super bantamweight champion Genesis ?Azukal? Servania and WBO International and OPBF super flyweight champion ?King? Arthur Villanueva face tough battles against formidable opponents at the fancy Solaire Resort Hotel & Casino alongside Manila Bay on March 1.
The 22 year old Servania who has a record of 23-0 with 9 knockouts clashes with Mexico?s Juan Hernandez (18-2, 13 KO?s) who has a 3rd round victory over Filipino puncher Denver Cuello who was disqualified in the 3rd round on May 22, 2010 and a split decision win over previously undefeated Moises Fuentes on February 5, 2011 before losing to Japan?s Kazuto Ioka in a WBC straw-weight title fight on August 10, 2011.
The 25 year old Villanueva who has 14 knockouts in his unbeaten run of 24 victories battles Venezuela?s 36 year old former WBA bantamweight champion Alexander Munoz of Venezuela who has a record of 36-5 with 28 knockouts and has fought some of the biggest names including Koki Kameda to whom he lost by a unanimous twelve round decision in a WBA bantamweight title fight and dropped a twelve round split decision to the classy Cristian Mijares in a WBA super flyweight title bout on May 17, 2008.
The veteran Munoz won the WBA 115 pound title with an impressive points win over Japan?s Nobuo Nashiro on May 3, 2007 and retained the title in a defense against another talented Japanese Katsushige Kawashima on January 14, 2008.
The fight card which marks the continuing partnership of ALA Promotions with the giant broadcast network ABS-CBN is another presentation of the highly successful ?Pinoy Pride? series and is titled ?THE FUTUR IS NOW? highlighting the fact that Servania and Villanueva are regarded as potential world champions.
Servania is rated No. 3 by the WBO behind No.1 ranked Chris Avalos and Nonito ?The Filipino Flash? Donaire who is at No. 2.
Servania will return next week from torrid sparring against several Mexican warriors as well as the reigning WBA world champion Scott Quigg during training sessions at Freddie Roach?s Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles and several top class gyms in Tijuana including those of Mexican legend Erik ?El Terrible? Morales and Antonio Margarito as well as in San Diego.
Servania is coming off an impressive 2nd round TKO of former WBA super flyweight champion Rafael ?El Torito? Concepcion of Panama who had previously gone twelve rounds with Donaire in a fight where Concepcion came in four pounds over the limit last October 26, 2013.
Servania has a tough time against Japan?s Konusuke Tomiyama in Macau on a Top Rank card on July 27, 2013 when the Filipino won a 9th round technical decision because of a bloodied left eyelid caused by an accidental head-butt.
Servania was dropped twice in the opening round but came back to deck Tomiyama late in round one and once again in round three to win a close decision.
The 24 year old Villanueva won the vacant WBO International 115 pound title with a smashing 1st round knockout of Edgar Martinez on October 26, 2013 after earlier winning the vacant WBO Asia Pacific title with a 4th round TKO of Arturo Badillo.
Villanueva captured the vacant Oriental Pacific Boxing Federtaion title with a close unanimous decision over Japan?s Taiki Ito on December 19, 2012. Significantly, Japanese judge Yuji Fukuchi scored the fight 113-112 for Villanueva who was down in rounds one and nine but also decked Ito in round four.
He is ranked No. 3 by the WBO, No. 4 by the IBF, No. 8 by the WBA and No. 15 by the WBC.
Photo: Servania (R) poses with world champion Scott Quigg at the Wildcard Gym in Los Angeles.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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