RUENROENG RETAINS IBF TITLE WITH SPLIT DECISION OVER MCWILLIAMS ARROYO
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 11 Sep 2014
Ruenroeng.
Former Olympian Amnat Ruenroeng of Thailand has retained his IBF flyweight title with a split decision win over former Puerto Rican Olympian McWilliams Arroyo in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand on Wednesday.
Two of the three judges scored the fight for Ruenroeng who was making the second defense of the vacant title he won in a clash with ALA Gym?s Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation champion Rocky Fuentes on January 22, while the third judge scored the fight for Arroyo who earned the title shot after a sensational 2nd round knockout of previously undefeated Filipino Froilan ?The Sniper? Saludar last June 19 in Puerto Rico.
Filipino judge Jonathan Davis who now lives in the United States had Ruenroeng the winner 115-114 while Australia?s Ignatius Missailidis also had the champion the winner 114-113. However, the third judge, another Australian Ben Keilty scored the fight for Arroyo 114-113.
Ruenroeng who had shoved Arroyo to the canvas for the second time in two successive rounds was dropped when Arroyo caught him with a perfectly timed left hook.
The Thai champion barely beat the mandatory eight-count but 66 year old referee Pat Russell whom Boxing Scene?s Jake Donovan described as ?aged? mistook the warning clapper as the bell, thereby ending the round early which Donovan said was ?the first of at least four times in which he would make such an error.?
Russell warned Ruenroeng for hitting on the break and for holding and shoving but never penalized the Thai world champion who had previously scored his biggest win in a twelve round unanimous decision over undefeated Japanese former two division champion Kazuto Ioka last May.
Even Fuentes while admitting he lost to Ruenroeng assailed the Thai for wrestling and dirty tactics which were ignored by Russell in the Arroyo fight.
Ruenroeng was assisted in his preparation for his title defense by former WBC flyweight champion Sonny Boy Jaro who was his sparring partner for a month in preparation for Jaro?s own title shot at undefeated WBC super flyweight champion Carlos ?Principe? Cuadras on September 20 in Mexico.
Jaro?s manager/trainer Aljoe Jaro reportedly advised Ruenroeng in working out a fight plan against Arroyo.
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