Philippines, 24 Jan 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


McJoe Arroyo defeats Arthur Villanueva in an injury-shortened bout


PhilBoxing.com




Previously undefeated Arthur Villanueva (27-0, 14 KOs) of the famed ALA Boxing Stable of Cebu City came up short in his attempt to become a world champion, yielding to unbeaten McJoe Arroyo (16-0, 8 KOs) of Puerto Rico by a Technical Decision in the 10th round of their scheduled twelve round championship fight.

The twenty ?six year old fighter from Bago City, Negros Occidental in the Philippines suffered a nasty cut in the 6th round from a clash of heads between the two fighters . That was not the only misfortune for the Filipino fighter in the 6th as he was deducted a point by referee Rafael Ramos for coming in with his head, after a couple of warnings.

The cut on Villanueva?s right eye became deeper as the fight extended to the 10th round, which forced Referee Ramos to stop the fight at the 2:05 mark upon the advice of the physician at ringside.

The result of the fight then went to the scorecards of the three judges at ringside and Arroyo was declared the winner of the shortened fight and the vacant International Boxing Federation (IBF) super flyweight world title with scores of 97-32, 98-91 and 98-91.

Both fighters were very cautious in their strategy against each other, which produced a very tactical fight between the two. The lack of action in the ring was booed by the crowd at the Don Haskins Convention Center in El Paso, Texas and was not appreciated by boxing scribes who commented on the fight via their social media accounts.

Villanueva was active from the opening round but he missed most of his punches in the early phase of the bout. Arroyo though was the more accurate fighter of the two despite his low volume punching. The Puerto Rican southpaw?s left hand was an effective weapon for him . Arroyo landed clean left hooks and left straights against his Filipino counterpart.

Villanueva tried to rally late after the deduction and the cut but his wound was a prime target for Arroyo?s who unloaded on it with his straight lefts. It produced further bleeding in the 10th and the ring officials decided that the fight had to be stopped.

Villanueva suffered the first loss of his career (27-1) in his debut in U.S. soil and also lost his chance to become the second world champion from his country. Currently, his stable mate Donnie Nietes is the only world title holder (WBO light flyweight) from the Philippines.

You can reach the author at rrmaze24@aol.com.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rich Mazon .


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • MURATALLA VS. CRUZ WEIGHTS AND RUNNING ORDER
    , Sat, 24 Jan 2026
  • Xander Zayas vs. Abass Baraou Fight Week Events to Stream LIVE on Top Rank’s Social Media Channels
    , Sat, 24 Jan 2026
  • Ballesteros not yet ready against Ocum
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 24 Jan 2026
  • Chocolatito Gonzalez to undergo shoulder surgery
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sat, 24 Jan 2026
  • NM Nika finishes Sixth in Czech Republic Blitz chess tourney
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 24 Jan 2026
  • The Ninth Annual Box Fan Expo RETURNS! Saturday May 2, 2026 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV
    , Sat, 24 Jan 2026
  • Donaire back in Cebu
    By Joaquin Henson, , Fri, 23 Jan 2026
  • MURATALLA VS. CRUZ IN LAS VEGAS FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
    , Fri, 23 Jan 2026
  • Four Pinoys in line for title shots
    By Joaquin Henson, , Fri, 23 Jan 2026
  • After the meeting in Mexico City, the WBC is ready for 2026
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Fri, 23 Jan 2026
  • Former world title challenger Jerry Belmontes Returns to ring at home after nearly a decade in Retirement on January 31 in Texas
    , Fri, 23 Jan 2026
  • SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT RONNY ALVAREZ TRAINING CAMP NOTES
    , Thu, 22 Jan 2026
  • STRICKLAND STUNS REYES AS SOUQUET SEALS REDEMPTION | WNT LEGENDS
    , Thu, 22 Jan 2026
  • Knicks defeats Nets 120-66 to post largest margin of victory in franchise history
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Thu, 22 Jan 2026
  • Mauricio Sulaiman: "We simply urge Zuffa Boxing to respect and protect boxing and the boxer"
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Thu, 22 Jan 2026
  • January 31: Xander Zayas-Abass Baraou Junior Middleweight Title Unification Showdown to Stream LIVE on Top Rank Classics FAST Channel in the United States
    , Thu, 22 Jan 2026
  • Mike Tyson to Launch “Mike Tyson Invitational,” a Three-Day Amateur Boxing Showcase Aimed at Elevating the Future of American Boxing
    , Thu, 22 Jan 2026
  • KAIPO GALLEGOS TRAINING CAMP NOTES
    , Thu, 22 Jan 2026
  • REYES AND BUSTAMANTE DELIVER HOME-SOIL MASTERCLASS | WNT LEGENDS
    , Wed, 21 Jan 2026
  • Reigning World 10-ball Champion Filipino cue master Jonas Magpantay to see action in Indonesia pool tourney
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 21 Jan 2026
  • OLYMPIC BOXING 7: 1936 OLYMPICS AT BERLIN, GERMANY
    By Maloney L. Samaco, , Wed, 21 Jan 2026
  • Usyk and Zuffa Boxing Negotiations Update
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 21 Jan 2026
  • Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimán: Twelve Years Later, Don José is Still With Us
    By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Tue, 20 Jan 2026
  • Get know “BIG BAD BAZLEY”as he retuns March 13 in Perth – Thunderdome 53
    , Tue, 20 Jan 2026
  • “Jye Chin brings a fight to whoever, whenever and where ever”: Jye Chin ready for WBC title Clash March 13 in Perth – Thunderdome 53
    , Tue, 20 Jan 2026




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2026 philboxing.com.