One last hurdle for world title shot Fuentes gears up for IBF eliminator

CEBU, Philippines - ALA Boxing Gym mainstay Rocky ‘Road Warrior’ Fuentes (35-6, 20KOs) hopes to hurdle one final obstacle towards his world title dream as he battles Puerto Rican power-hitter McWilliams Arroyo (14-1, 12KOs) in an IBF flyweight eliminator on January 25 at the Humacao Arena in Humacao, Puerto Rico.

The winner of the Fuentes-Arroyo showdown will earn a mandatory shot at the IBF 112-pound throne currently held by Moruti Mthalane of South Africa.

“He's almost done with our training camp and I can safely say that he is now in 100% condition,” said ALA chief trainer Edito Villamor.

For Villamor, fighting in Puerto Rico is not a big deal for Fuentes as his ward has already proven to be an effective warrior on foreign shores, even defending his OPBF belt six times in Japan.

“Rocky is a very experienced boxer and I am confident of our chances in winning even if he will be fighting in enemy’s territory. He has a very strong metal focus going into his fights,” said Villamor.

So far, the 27-year-old has logged in close to hundred rounds of sparring against world champions Donnie "Ahas" Nietes and Merlito "Tiger" Sabillo.

Fuentes hasn't lost since 2008 and is on a 15-fight win streak. However, he must not take his opponent lightly as Arroyo, a former Olympian and the reigning WBC Latino flyweight champion, is a certified knockout artist having flattened 12 of his 14 victims in what appears to be a promising career. (FREEMAN)