OPBF flyweight champion Rocky Fuentes was just one of the many boxers walking around the lobby of the Waterfront Hotel last Saturday during the Philippines vs The World fight card. He looked lean, calm and confident; the kind of quite confidence brought about by winning and retaining title belts on the road.
Fuentes told this writer that he will be leaving for Japan on September 3 and he is more than ready for second title defense this September 5 against Japanese Yasuto Aritomi. This will be his fourth fight on Japanese soil.
Four years ago, Fuentes beat Yuki Naso by split decision in a non-title bout held in Osaka. The 24 year old Fuentes (26 W-6L-2 D, 16 KO's) won the title last March 2010 with a majority decision win over Japanese Masafumi Okubo in Tokyo. His first title defense was against Shigetaka Ikehara last June also in Tokyo where he won by 11th round TKO in what Japanese boxing writers described as a possible ?Fight of the Year? in their country.
The Japanese promoters obviously want one more chance to beat him. His fight against Aritomi will be at the International Conference Hall in Nagoya. Fuentes will be accompanied on this trip by ALA Gym trainers Edito Villamor and Joseph Baldago.
This the second attempt at the Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation title for the 30 year old Aritomi (17W-1L-2D,8 KO's). He drew with Okubo two years ago in his first try to win the OPBF title.
For his efforts, Fuentes is now ranked number 10 by the WBA and number 7 by the WBC. The WBA champion is Daiki Kameda of Japan while the WBC crown is worn by Pongsaklek Wonjogkam of Thailand.
Just like his stable mate, WBO minimumweight champion Donnie Nietes, Fuentes has developed into a feared road warrior. But Cebu fight fans would also appreciate it if we can see him defend his title here at home.
(File photo ? Fuentes (left) against Pit Anacaya in a fight held during Cebu?s Sinulog 2010)
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