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Philippines, 04 May 2024 |
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Fuentes retains OPBF belt and makes proud of a nation PhilBoxing.com Mon, 07 Jun 2010  ALA Promotions' Team Fuentes arrived last night via Philippine Airlines flight PR 433 from Japan. Fresh from a victory over one of Japan's most feared and highly regarded prospects Shigetaka Ikehara, Rocky Fuentes was clearly ecstatic and relieved to be home with his championship belt and trophy at hand. The Fuentes-Ikehara OPBF flyweight title fight was the first of three championship fights featured that evening but clearly stole the show as both fighters poured out their all in what people in attendance considered to be hands down the fight of the year by far. Fuentes imposed himself early in the fight as he managed to surprise Ikehara with left hooks and right straights to the head that rocked Ikehara during the first two rounds of the contest. Fuentes looked confident coming out of his corner at the start of the third round and was looking to finish off the somewhat dizzied Ikehara but the Japanese warrior stood toe-to-toe with the Filipino defending champion and managed to land some hard blows to Fuentes' head and body. The fourth round became more interesting when Ikehara pressed hard on landing body shots left and right and catching Fuentes off guard with a very hard over-hand right on the temple that clearly wobbled his Filipino foe sending the loud and proud Japanese boxing fans into a frenzy. With fifteen seconds left in the round, Ikehara tried to finish off Fuentes but Rocky managed to keep his calm and held on to survive the round. The fifth round saw Ikehara increase his work load as he saw Fuentes still trying to recover from that nearly fight ending blow but Fuentes, showing poise and maturity boxed and managed to keep Ikehara at bay. There was never a dull moment during the fight as both fighters got their second wind and upped the tempo again with Ikehara drawing inspiration from the bulk of Japanese fans at the Korakuen Hall. On the seventh round a loud roar burst in the arena as Fuentes got caught with an uppercut delivered by Ikehara but again Rocky survived. In the following round, the Filipino OPBF champion Fuentes seemed to have found his rhythm and managed to have solved the Ikehara offensive landing some very hard punches to Ikehara's head and mid-section that clearly took a lot from the Japanese fighter. Sensing his opponent fading, Fuentes worked and pushed on the ninth round showing great heart and determination landing more power shots and breaking Ikehara's defense. By the end of the round Ikehara looked groggy walking back to his corner. The tenth round started with Fuentes out of his corner after the bell looking at Ikehara still in his stool as if saying let's go and Ikehara getting up slow. More action took place as Rocky plowed even deeper and clearly wearing out the opponent. The end finally came at 2:09 of the eleventh round as Ikehara's corner threw in the towel to stop the fight. Ikehara showed warrior like posture but clearly the Filipino was the greater fighter that day. Showing world class sportsmanship, Rocky Fuentes went to his opponent to thank him for a good fight and told him he was a great and strong fighter but the Japanese Shigetaka Ikehara bowed down his head and quickly returned the compliment by saying the Filipino Fuentes was the better fighter. Both fighters got a standing ovation and sure enough Rocky Fuentes left the ring bringing with him the respect not only of his opponent but the Japanese boxing fans as well. ALA Promotions' PR Manager Chad Ca?ares was with Team Fuentes during the fight and said The Rocky Fuentes vs Shigetaka Ikehara OPBF title fight was a fight to remember and a fight that the Filipino nation should be proud of. Top photo: Rocky Fuentes (R) engages with Japan's Masafumi Okubo during a March 2010 showdown.  |
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