Philippines, 27 Jul 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


PINOY PRIDE 34: VILLANUEVA, MELINDO WIN BY SPLIT DECISIONS OVER THEIR MEXICAN RIVALS


PhilBoxing.com




LAPULAPU CITY ? 'King' Arthur Villanueva of the Philippines won by split decision over Victor 'Spock' Mendez of Mexico to capture the WBC international super flyweight title in 'Pinoy Pride 34: Back with a Vengeance' at the rain-soaked Hoops Dome here Saturday night.

Filipino judge Benigno Pe?afiel had it 116-112 for Villanueva, Filipino judge Samson Libres had it 117-111 for Villanueva and Mexican judge Humberto Olivarez had it 115-113 for Mendez.

The fight turned into a tactical fight the whole night as neither fighter wanted to mix it up. Both Villanueva and Mendez had their moments during the fight with Villanueva mostly scoring with his overhand rights and Mendez scoring with right and left counters. Villanueva had a big ninth round when he connected with a right uppercut on Mendez that staggered the Mexican and then followed it up with a hard right.

With the win, Villanueva improves to 28-1-0 with 14 stoppages while Mendez dropped to 12-3-2.


Arthur Villanueva captures the vacant WBC super flyweight belt by defeating Victor Mendez by split decision Saturday night at the Hoops Dome in Lapulapu City.


Milan Melindo (R) engages a war of attrition against Victor Emanuel Olivo.

27-year-old, 35-fight veteran and two-time world title challenger Milan 'El Metodico' Milendo got into a real fight with 19-year-old Mexican Victor Emanuel Olivo, who had only 9 fights before Saturday's event, and needed a big 8th and 9th rounds to escape with a split decision victory.

Melindo, who prepared for two months against a lefty and rangy opponent in Carlos Fontes who withdraw only a few days before the fight, had to box by instinct against the orthodox and shorter Olivo.

Olivo, who is trained by Jose Alfredo Caballero, the trainer of world champion Juan Francisco Estrada who beat Melindo in Macau in 2013, made good use of his trainer's knowledge to frustrate Melindo from dominating the fight, dishing out effective combinations to neutralize Melindo.

After Melindo controlled the opening round with his patented right-left crosses and uppercuts, Olivo came back strong in the second round, timing Melindo beautifully with his own counters and immediately the fight was transformed into a war of attrition with neither fighter able to dominate but plenty of torrid exchanges as the fight went forward until Melindo connected with a hard right in the 8th round that staggered Olivo and followed it up with a dominant 9th round. But Olivo refused to wilt under pressure and snatched the last round.

Judges Salven Lagumbay and Edgar Olalo scored 96-94 in favor of Melindo while judge Edward Ligas gave the nod to Olivo, 96-94. All three judges gave Melindo the 8th and 9th rounds while Olivo got the 10th round from the three judges as well.

Melindo now improves to 33-2-0 with 12 knockouts while Olive suffered his first defeat in 10 fights.


Kevin Jake Cataraja (R) and Faris Nenggo.

Kevin Jake Cataraja (PH) (1-0-0, 1KO) vs Faris Nenggo (Indonesia) (10-8-3, 3KO)
6 rounds 112 lbs

Kevin Jake 'KJ' Cataraja, in only his second professional fight, gave a good beatdown on Faris Nenggo of Indonesia and scored an impressive 4th round stoppage win and avenged the loss suffered by former world champion and stablemate Merlito Sabillo at the hands of Nenggo one year ago.

Starting out fast right from the opening bell, Cataraja connected with a bunch of punches to the retreating Indonesian, breaking the nose of Nenggo in the process and followed it up with a liver shot that sent Nenggo to the canvas right in the very first round.

In the second round, somehow Nenggo neutralized Catarajas's aggressiveness with his own counters but in the third, Cataraja resumed the punishment and inflicted a cut on Nenggo's left eyebrow. As blood drips from Nenggo's face, Referee Nick Banal called the ring physician twice to check on Nenggo's cuts and the ring physician finally recommended to stop the fight at 2:43 in the 4th round.

Cataraja registered his second knockout victory in as many fights while Nenggo dropped to 10-9-3.


AJ Banal (R) and Tanzania's Emilio Norfat.

AL 'Bazooka' Banal (PH) (33-2-1, 22KO) vs Emilio Norfat (Tanzania) (25-6-0, 19KO)
10 rounds 126 lbs

AJ 'Bazooka' Banal added another W in his comeback run when he stopped Emilio Norfat of Tanzania in the 3rd round of their 10 round featherweight bout.

Banal connected with a hard left to Norfat's kisser a few seconds from the opening bell that sent the Tanzanian to the canvas although Norfat immediately got up for the count. Banal continued to attack in the second but the game Tanzanian threw his own combinations that sometimes momentarily stopped Banal on his tracks and even inflicted a cut on Banal's left eyebrow that was caused by a punch and aggravated by a headbutt. In the 3rd round Banal scored another knockdown but the rangy Norfat again immediately got up for the count. Banal went on to score a series of unanswered punches before Referee Teddy Alivio waived off the contest of a TKO victory by Banal at 1:41 of the 3rd round.

Banal now upped his record to 34-2-1 with 23 knockouts while Norfat dropped to 25-7-0.


Fuentes drops Tamboresi of Indonesia.

Comebacking Rocky 'The Road Warrior' Fuentes (36-8-2, 21KO), whose last outing was a stoppage defeat against No. 1 pound for pound Roman Gonzalez of Nicaragua on Nov. 22, 2014, made short work of the plodding Indonesian Afrizal Tamboresi (11-4-0, 6KO). Fuentes connected with a looping overhand right in the second round with the Indonesian unable to beat the count.

In the curtain raisers:

Melvin 'Gringo' Jersusalem (8-0-0, 7KO) of Bukidnon displayed good hand speed and quick counters by stopping Crison Omayao (17-11-3, 5KO), also of Bukidnon, in the second round of their scheduled 10-round minimumweight bout. Jerusalem connected with a crushing right uppercut to Omayao's solar plexus that left Omayao gasping for breath in he was out for the count at 2:30 in the second round.

In battle of youth vs experience Chris Gonzaga, 21, (7-0-0, 1KO) of Matalom, Leyte defeated aging veteran Fabio Marfa, 36, (25-28-4, 12KO) by unanimous decision. All three scored 58-56 in Gonzaga's favor.

Christian Bacolod (Cebu City) (2-0-0, 2KO) vs Delfin de Asis (Bukidnon) (2-2-0, 2KO)
4 rounds 108 lbs

In the opening bout Christian Bacolod (3-0-0, 3KO) of Cebu City stopped Delfin de Asis (2-3-0, 2KO) of Bukidnon in the first round with a crushing hook to the liver at 2:30 of the round.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Dong Secuya.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Berlanga, Hitchins Win in Zuffa Boxing New York Event
    By NewsHub @ PhilBoxing , , Mon, 27 Jul 2026
  • World champion Sanzhar Tashkenbay to headline International Boxing Day in Astana
    , Mon, 27 Jul 2026
  • Cyrud "The Ferocious" Cabautan Defeats Michael "D' Power Fist" Diaz in Olympus Rising by TWC Amateur MMA Fight
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 27 Jul 2026
  • USA Boxing Earns Four Wins at 2026 Capri Boxing Cup
    , Mon, 27 Jul 2026
  • Tim Tszyu Dominates Spence in Wide UD Win as 'The Truth' Formally Retires
    By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 26 Jul 2026
  • Joshua Survives Early Knockdowns to Stop Prenga, Clearing Path for Fury Mega-Fight
    By NewsHub @ PhilBoxing , , Sun, 26 Jul 2026
  • Weigh-In Results - All Set for the Main Event Between Steven Butler and Edgar Berlanga Tomorrow Night in New York City!
    , Sun, 26 Jul 2026
  • Team USA Set for Capri Boxing Cup Against Italy on Saturday
    , Sun, 26 Jul 2026
  • 'The Comeback' Weigh-In results and confirmed Fight Night running order as AJ faces Prenga
    By NewsHub @ PhilBoxing , , Sat, 25 Jul 2026
  • Errol Spence vs Tim Tszyu: Do or Die Down Under
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 25 Jul 2026
  • SYDNEY WEIGH-IN REPORT: Spence and Tszyu On Weight; Co-Main Event Cancelled After Fulton Blows Weight
    By NewsHub @ PhilBoxing , , Sat, 25 Jul 2026
  • Fury Halts Wach in Thailand, Leaving Ball in Joshua’s Court for Mega-Fight
    By NewsHub @ PhilBoxing , , Sat, 25 Jul 2026
  • Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimán: A Great First Half of the Year for the WBC
    By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Sat, 25 Jul 2026
  • CK Ingles to Host Open 2x2 Team and Open Individual Rapid Chess Tournaments with ₱100,000 Prize Pool
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 25 Jul 2026
  • Magnificent 7 boxers gird for Asiad
    By Joaquin Henson, , Sat, 25 Jul 2026
  • Arca wins silver in Asian Youth in Shenzhen, China
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 25 Jul 2026
  • Anthony Joshua and Kristian Prenga exchange final words at Press Conference ahead of 'The Comeback'
    By NewsHub @ PhilBoxing , , Fri, 24 Jul 2026
  • SYDNEY SHOWDOWN: Spence and Tszyu Exchange Final Verbal Barbs; Undercard Weight Drama Unfolds at Press Conference
    By NewsHub @ PhilBoxing , , Fri, 24 Jul 2026
  • Spence vs Tszyu Fight Analysis and Prediction
    By Ralph Rimpell, , Fri, 24 Jul 2026
  • “BUTTERFLY BRAWL” MARKS RETURN TO ICONIC SANTA MONICA PIER
    By NewsHub @ PhilBoxing , , Fri, 24 Jul 2026
  • AIM Jerick Faeldonia vying for Bangkok chess tilt
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 24 Jul 2026
  • PHILBOXING.COM THURSDAY ROUNDUP: Scale Shock in Pattaya, Red Sea Staredowns, and Final Countdown to Sydney
    By NewsHub @ PhilBoxing , , Thu, 23 Jul 2026
  • USA Boxing Sends Eight Boxers to Italy for International Duel
    , Thu, 23 Jul 2026
  • P248k prize on the line in Moon Cake Festival Pro Amateur 10-ball tournament at Pacman's Cue Club
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 23 Jul 2026
  • Super Lightweight Contender Frank “The Ghost” Martin Inks Promotional Pact with Top Rank
    By NewsHub @ PhilBoxing , , Thu, 23 Jul 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.