‘El Matador’ to test mettle of Thai rival

Undefeated prospect Arthur “El Matador” Villanueva (19W-0L, 12 KOs) of Bacolod City will face his first foreign opponent and potentially his toughest foe in Thai veteran Pramuansak Posuwan (45W-4L-1D, 24 KOs) in the undercard of the WBO International flyweight title bout between Milan “El Metodico’ Melindo of the LA Gym and Jean Piero Perez of Venezuela this Saturday at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino.

Posuwan once fought for the vacant WBO world superflyweight title last March 28,2009 and lost by unanimous decision to Jose “Carita” Lopez of Puerto Rico. This is the same Lopez who lost his world title to Marvin “Marvelous” Sonsona in Canada last Sept. 4, 2009.

Posuwan has also fought and lost to popular Mexican ex-world champion Fernando Montiel by unanimous decision in a WBO world title bout in 2005.

Posuwan has fought twice in Cebu, losing a split decision to Federico Catubay in Naga and a 10th round TKO loss to Marjohn Yap after sustaining a leg injury in the last round at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel, in the second half of 2009. The 43 year-old Posuwan has beaten many Filipino boxers like Roy Doliguez, Dondon Jimenea and Eric Barcelona. Posuwan is also a former WBO Asia-Pacific superflyweight champion.

“This will be a good test for Villanueva,” ALA Promotions Vice Pres. Dennis Canete told CDN Wednesday afternoon.

The 23 year-old Villanueva has been on the undercard of Pinoy Pride events in three of his last four bouts. Last year, he beat Mark Anthony Geraldo by sixth round technical decision in Bacolod City and this year, he beat Rey Migreno by unanimous decision at the Waterfront Hotel last March and Jeffrey Cerna by split decision last June at the Resorts World Manila. Villanueva is also a former Philippine flyweight champion.

PEREZ’ PUBLIC WORKOUT

The Venezuelan boxer appearing in the Pinoy Pride XVI main event, former WBA interim world flyweight champion Jean Piero Perez, held a public workout at SM Cebu Events Centre yesterday afternoon showing impressive hand speed and power when he hit the punch mitts with his trainer Francisco Arroyo. Perez is taller than Melindo and exhibited good footwork during his workout.

Fans who attended the event also won complimentary tickets.

Also set to appear on Pinoy Pride XVI are two OPBF champions – Rocky Fuentes who will defend his OPBF flyweight title against Myung Ho Lee of Japan and OPBF miniflyweight champion Merlito “Tiger” Sabillo of Bacolod City, who will face Bimbo Nacionales of Maasim, Sarangani in a non-title contest.