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Road Warrior Rocky Fuentes defends at home in PINOY PRIDE II By Rene Bonsubre, Jr. PhilBoxing.com Tue, 09 Nov 2010  After three straight fights in Japan, OPBF flyweight champion Rocky Fuentes will get a chance to defend his title in Cebu when he squares off against Inthanon Sithchamuang of Thailand in a twelve round bout this November 27 at the Waterfront Hotel and Casino. The 24 year old Fuentes, who hails from Mambaling, Cebu City, was named after the popular fictional prizefighter Rocky Balboa. ?Yes, Rocky is my real name. My father, Cesar Fuentes, was also a boxer. He was a big fan of the popular Rocky movies so he named me after the lead character.? Fuentes is a seven year pro and was a four time National Youth Champion as an amateur. But for the past few years,the people behind ALA Promotions were worried about his focus and attitude; that he was an underachiever and that he wasn?t aggressive enough during fights. He even started the year fighting in a ?Free to the Public? fight card at the Gaisano Country Mall Carpark during Cebu?s Sinulog Festival. He would knock out Pit Anacaya in three rounds but the learned observers at ringside knew Fuentes was capable of a lot more. When Fuentes was 16 years old he was involved in a ring tragedy. In only his fourth professional bout, his opponent John Eman Juarez died after the fight. One can just imagine Fuentes' immediate thoughts on that night and it's impact on his psyche. Last year, he saw another near tragedy happen on television when ALA stablemate Z Gorres underwent brain surgery in Las Vegas after winning against Luis Melendez of Colombia. ?It used to bother me a lot. I am in a very dangerous profession. I am now more mature emotionally and have learned to accept the things that have happened. I just pray. I am a very religious person.? said Fuentes, who is a member of the Iglesia ni Cristo, Two months after fighting in a mall carpark, the call came for him to fight for the Oriental and Pacific flyweight title. Fuentes made the most of the opportunity. ?I told myself, this is my time. I will bring back the title.? He won the OPBF title in Tokyo with a majority decision win over Japanese Masafumi Okubo. His first title defense was against Shigetaka Ikehara last June also in Tokyo where he won by 11th round TKO. The Japanese boxing writers described that bout a possible ?Fight of the Year? in their country as Fuentes did have a Rocky Balboa-like moment in the third round. Ikehara stunned and hurt him and Fuentes was literally hanging on for survival. But Fuentes showed his heart and turned things around in the succeeding rounds by investing in body shots. . Last September, Fuentes (27 W-6L-2 D, 17 KO's) made a second successful defense of his OPBF title by beating another Japanese challenger Yasuto Aritomi by 8th round TKO in Nagoya. Fuentes has used his money wisely and now owns a multicab. He has also set his sights higher. ?If given the chance, I will fight any of the flyweight world champions out there.? His underachieving days are indeed over. It's been three years since Fuentes last fought at the Waterfront. Now he feels this is his time to shine. P.S: The fight card billed as PINOY PRIDE II: BEST OF THE BEST is headlined by Milan ?El Metodico? Melindo vs former IBF world light flyweight champ Carlos Tamara of Colombia. Also seeing action are former IBF mini-flyweight champ Florante Condes vs Kenichi Horikawa of Japan, Former three time OPBF champ Randy Suico vs Philippine welterweight champion Arnel Tinampay, Dodie Boy Pe?alosa, Jr. vs Jomar Torreon, Rey Melligen vs Junel Gadapan and Melvin Gumban vs JR Salvador. (TOP PHOTO ? ROCKY FUENTES, BELOW :L-R: Randy Suico, Florante Condes, Rocky Fuentes, ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer, Milan Melindo, Trainer Edito Villamor, Trainer Joseph Baldago and Exchange and Sports Bar owner Kevin Cook pose during the Pinoy Pride II presscon held at Exchange and Sports Bar in Cebu City. Photo by Dong Secuya.)  Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..  |
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