AFTER several attempts, I finally caught up with renowned physical conditioning guru Alex Ariza by phone yesterday and brought up the case of undefeated featherweight Lorenzo ?Thunderbolt? Villanueva, who holds a record of 21 wins with 20 knockouts and is currently the World Boxing Organization (WBO) Oriental Featherweight champion.
In response to the clamor of boxing fans and my boxing friends, as well as my own judgment call, I really feel that this 24-year-old orphan from Bual Norte, Midsayap, North Cotabato who was discovered through a grassroots boxing program that I started when I was Governor of the province, needs a topnotch conditioning coach who could help him develop into a world caliber prize fighter.
Villanueva, who stands 5′ 7″ and a southpaw, possesses the power, the heart and the relentless fighting style which I believe are the correct basic weapons that a boxer needs to bring into the ring to succeed.
But in spite of these three very important attributes, Lorenzo, a shy boy who does not even talk to strangers unless engaged, is like a diamond in the rough that needs to be polished to prepare him for the tougher and bigger fights.
For one, Villanueva is flat-footed. While his movement inside the ring is better than the ordinary flat-footed bangers, I really would like him to develop a side-to-side movement, just like Manny Pacquiao who could easily move in and out of his opponent?s range.
As of now, his attitude is what we jokingly call ?Christmas exchange gifts,? I will take your punch but you take mine as well. This works well for him now because he could take a punch and the quality of his opponents is not that tough yet. But the moment he gets inside the ring with somebody who has power and who could take a punch as well, then he will get into trouble.
Of course, there is a need to greatly improve his punching angle and his defense, but that will be the concern of the trainer.
All that I asked Alex Ariza to consider was giving more quickness, agility and endurance to Villanueva. These are the attributes evident in Manny Pacquiao, Amir Khan and now Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. who are all students of Ariza in physical conditioning.
?I will be in Mexico for a month (obviously because of Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr.) but I will be in the Philippines September 16 and I will take a look at Villanueva,? he told me yesterday.
But he said that he would have to seek clearance from his friend and favorite conditioning student, Manny Pacquiao.
?I will have to ask Manny if he will allow me to handle the physical conditioning program of your boy,? he said.
?I don?t think that will be a problem or an issue with Manny,? Pacquiao?s friend and confidant, Cebu City boxing man Rex Wakee Salud, told me yesterday when I relayed to him Alex Ariza?s concern. Wakee said he would talk to Manny about it.
Honestly, I have to admit that while the Philippines is teeming with boxing talents now, there is really a dearth of world-class trainers and physical conditioners. Even my brother, Noli, who trains our boxers along with Dante Lerio, has no qualms in admitting this. It is in these two areas where we are sorely behind the Mexicans and the Americans.
Add to that, capable corner men who could adjust their boxer?s fighting style to the actual situation inside the ring which is what we also lack in the Philippines.
With the prospect of Alex Ariza possibly handling Villanueva, all that is left to be done now is to continue the hunt for a world-class trainer who will polish his fighting style.
When everything is done, Lorenzo ?Thunderbolt? Villanueva would be ready for the big fights. As for me, I would have already done what I needed to do?open the doors that would lead this village boy to a better future and out of the pit of poverty.
