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Philippines, 24 Aug 2025 |
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Conditioning Guru Alex Ariza Takes In Pinoy KO Artist PhilBoxing.com Fri, 05 Aug 2011  Physical conditioning guru Alex Ariza whose famous clients include Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao, British world champion Amir Khan and Mexican prodigy Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr., has taken in as his newest student a young Filipino knockout artist from the Southern Philippine province of North Cotabato who holds an impressive record of 21 professional boxing victories with 20 knockouts. Ariza's new student is 24-year-old Lorenzo "Thunderbolt" Villanueva, a southpaw from Midsayap town near the rebel stronghold of Liguasan Marsh in Central Mindanao who holds the World Boxing Organization (WBO) Oriental Featherweight title. He is a product of a grassroots boxing program started in 1998 by then North Cotabato Governor Manny Pinol who now acts as the young fighter's manager. Villanueva was recommended by Pinol to Ariza, who has made a mark in sports conditioning with the superb performances of Pacquiao, Khan and the young Chavez. Ariza told Pinol he will work on Villanueva after he has advised his Number 1 student and friend, Manny Pacquiao. "I will seek Manny's clearance," Ariza told Pinol by phone earlier this week. Cebu-based boxing man Rex "Wakee" Salud, a confidant and close friend of Pacquiao, however, said getting Ariza to handle the physical conditioning of a young Filipino boxer is not an issue for the Pacman. "He will in fact be happy to be able to help young Filipino boxers," Salud said. Ariza is arriving in the Philippines mid-September and will join Pacquiao in his Baguio City training camp. He is expected to start working on Villanueva in Baguio City. Villanueva, who stands 5' 7" and described by those who have known him as shy and very humble, is one of the young boys discovered in the grassroots boxing program of North Cotabato which in 2006 engaged the services of Cuban Olympic coach Honorato Espinosa who stayed in the province for 18 months. Awkward in his fighting style, Villanueva is extremely strong, relentless and possesses a durable chin. The only boxer who survived Villanueva's punching power and lasted 10 rounds with the Thunderbolt was Jaime Barcelona, a durable journeyman who already had over 80 professional fights when the young Lorenzo met him in his 10th pro outing. Villanueva knocked down Barcelona once in the bout but the experienced fighter from Bukidnon province withstood the onslaught up to the last round. Pinol said Ariza could give Villanueva the endurance and the agility that he lacks now. Along with a world class boxing trainer, Ariza could mold Villanueva into a boxing champion in the years to come. Photo: Lorenzo Villanueva (R) receives the trophy from Lapu-Lapu city councilor Harry Radaza after Villanueva won by first round knockout over Indonesian Eddy Camaro last Saturday in Lapu-lapu city. Photo by Dong Secuya.  |
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