Fuentes to defend OPBF title in Cebu

CEBU, Philippines - OPBF champion Rocky Fuentes will once again be fighting on home soil in the supporting main event of "Pinoy Pride 2:Best of the Best" at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino on November 27.

Fuentes will be capping off a stellar year with a hometown fight after snatching the OPBF flyweight title from Masafumi Okubo at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan last March 9. New life has been breathed into Fuentes’ career after since the Okubo win.

Fuentes defended his title twice this year in Tokyo with an 11th round TKO over Shigetaka Ikehara last June 5 and an 8th round TKO of Yasuto Aritomi last September 5, earning him the 'Road Warrior' tag for beating up Japanese fighters in their home country.

Fuentes (27-6, 17KOs) is one of the busiest fighters this year and is set to meet Thai Inthanon Sithchamuang (9-2, 3KOs) in the second installment of "Pinoy Pride" trilogy.

“I really am very excited for this fight as I have not fought here in Cebu since early of this year.”I want to prove not just to anybody but to myself that I belong here and that I can succeed and remain champion for a long time. It has been almost a year since I last fought here and I would like to thank Sir ALA and Sir Michael Aldeguer for the opportunities given to me,” said Fuentes.

The city government of Cebu headed by Mayor Mike Rama is in full support of the "Pinoy Pride" events jointly presented by ALA Promotions and ABS-CBN Sports. The slambang show is also backed by the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino, SM City Cebu, International Bar Complex, Mooon Café, Sports Exchange Bar and Grill and Y101 FM Always First.

Tickets are available at the ALA Promotions Office (032-2364611), the ALA Gym- BTC, Bisaya Ispisyal and USA Sports boutiques at the Ayala Center Cebu, Mooon Café branches at Ayala Terraces, Park Mall in Mandaue and The Walk at the I.T. Park in Lahug, I2 Building of Primary Properties at the I.T. Park Lahug and at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino. (THE FREEMAN)