Fuentes confident of winning IBF title eliminator Jan 25

THE EXPERIENCE of fighting in foreign soil will be one of the keys to victory for Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) flyweight champion Rocky “Road Warrior” Fuentes when he battles former Olympian McWilliams Arroyo in a title eliminator for the International Boxing Federation (IBF) this Jan. 25 in Puerto Rico.

Fuentes, who has a record of 35 wins with 20 knockouts coupled with six losses and two draws, said  this fight will be the biggest of his career.

Still, he is treating the showdown against the Puerto Rican as just another one of his fights abroad.

“Although this is my first time to fight for a title eliminator, I always keep in my mind that this is just like my previous fights abroad,” Fuentes said. “But I also think that I have to give everything I got inside the ring because this kind of opportunity happens once.”

Fuentes cemented his name as one of the top boxers in his division after he toppled several big names in Japan in the past years to live up to his moniker as the “Road Warrior”.

He said he is confident of winning over Arroyo (14-1, 12KOs) because of his rigid training that started after summer last year, that included sparring sessions with two world champions, Donnie “Ahas” Nietes and Merlito “Tiger” Sabillo.

Fuentes said that Edmund Villamor, ALA Boxing Gym trainer Peter Cuizon and unbeaten Filipino prospect Mark Andrew Acub (13-0, 10 KOs) will be going with him to Puerto Rico. Acub faces former world title challenger Jose “Chelo” Gonzalez (22-1, 17 KOs) in the undercard.