ARTHUR Villanueva still has a lot to prove in his fledgling boxing career, and with his first Mexican opponent on July 13, the question of how good he really is should be answered on that night.
?Yes, this is the first time that he will be up against a Mexican of this level. That is why we are preparing him hard in training. This will be a big test and a tough fight for Arthur. We will know in this fight if he is ready for world-caliber fighters. That is why we always prepare our boxers on what they need in training with the guidance of Sir ALA (Antonio L. Aldeguer),? ALA Gym head trainer Edito Villamor told Sun.Star Cebu yesterday.
The 24-year-old Villanueva faces former world title challenger Arturo Badillo for the vacant World Boxing Organization (WBO) Asia-Pacific super flyweight belt as the main supporting bout of Pinoy Pride XXI ? ?When Worlds Collide? at the Solaire Resort and Casino in Pasay City.
The 26-year-old Badillo should be a good measuring stick to test Villanueva. He has fought for a world title once but lost to Hugo Fidel Cazares in 2011. He has beaten the likes of Javier Gallo and Lizandro de los Santos.
Badillo has a 21-4 record and packs a punch with 19 knockouts. However, he has a suspect chin because he was stopped in all his four losses.
?He (Badillo) is a tough fighter and should not be taken lightly,? said Villamor. ?We have to defend well. Arthur is in great shape and he is ready for his fight.?
Badillo is coming off a second round technical knockout win over unheralded Daniel Gonzalez last February after suffering three consecutive losses.
Meanwhile, Villanueva, 22-0 with 12 knockouts, is fresh from an impressive unanimous decision win over erstwhile unbeaten Marco Demecillo.
The main event features the world title defense of WBO mini-flyweight king Merlito Sabillo (22-0, 11 KOs) against Colombian challenger Jorle Estrada (17-6, 6 KOs).
Meanwhile, AJ ?Bazooka? Banal (28-2-1, 20 KOs) returns to action after a layoff against Mexican Abraham Gomez (18-7-1, 9 KOs).
