Fuentes fumbles in world title bid

CEBU, Philippines - Rocky ‘Road Warrior’ Fuentes of the ALA Boxing Gym failed in his bid to win the vacant IBF flyweight title, losing by 12-round unanimous decision to hometown fighter Amnat Ruenroeng yesterday at the Liptapanlop Hall in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.

In a report from fightnews.com, Fuentes fought hard and was aggressive the entire fight, but Ruenroeng, a former Olympian, proved to be the more skillful boxer, wisely using his footwork to outgun the Filipino warrior.

Knowing that his opponent is a knockout artist, Ruenroeng did not engage as the fight went through and spent most of the time in safety mode, but at the same time connecting with some clean combination to the head and body of the Filipino fighter.

The Thai fighter was also successful in frustrating Fuentes who missed with his punches time and again during the final two rounds of the fight.

Ruenroeng earned the nod of the three judges with the scores of 117-111, 116-112 and 116-112.

“He (Ruenroeng) keeps on running away to avoid Rocky’s punches. He refused to fight Rocky toe-to-toe,” said ALA trainer Edmund Villamor. “He did not hurt Rocky and we want a rematch but we don’t want it to be held in Thailand.” 

It was a disappointing defeat for Fuentes who waited a long time to get a shot at the world title. A win would have made Fuentes the third world champion from the famed ALA Boxing Gym next to WBO light flyweight champion Donnie Nietes and WBO minimumweight titlist Merlito Sabillo.

Ruenroeng improved his record to a perfect 12-0, spiked with five stoppages, while Fuentes ends his six-year win streak and dropped to a record of 35-7-2, 20KOs.

The bout was for the title formerly held by Moruti Mthalane, who was stripped of the belt for refusing to defend against Ruenroeng. (FREEMAN)