MANILA – Negrense boxer Arthur Villanueva had a triumphant ring return after beating Bryan Tamayo via unanimous decision on Saturday evening at IPI Complex in Mandaue City, Cebu.
Villanueva did not show any rust from almost two years of inactivity as he dominated Tamayo from start to finish for a 59-55, 59-55, 59-55 score from the judges.
The Bago City, Negros Occidental-native Villanueva – who deferred his retirement plans after signing with Slovenian boxing manager Hinko Kostanvejec last year – immediately showed his wares in the early rounds as he pounded Tamayo with combinations.
Tamayo had his opportunities midway in the six-round boxing match but his punches were not strong enough to hurt the Negrense boxer and overturned the outcome.
Villanueva – a three-time world boxing championship challenger – improved his record to 33-4-1 win-loss-draw ring record with 18 knockouts (KOs) wins, while Tamayo saw his record dropped to 6-2-2 with two knockout triumphs.
On the other hand, Ilonggo Juanito Paredes was unsuccessful in his boxing return after a unanimous decision defeat at the hands of the much-experienced Peter Apolinar.
Paredes was aggressive in the entire match and had the chance to hurt Apolinar but the latter regained his power in the late rounds to pummel the former.
With the defeat, the second straight for Paredes, his boxing record slid down to 8-7-1 including three wins by stoppages. Apolinar moved up to a 14-1-0 record with eight KO wins.
In the undercard of the “Kumbati” boxing event organized by Omega Sports Promotions, Bacolodnon fighter Paolo Sy suffered a third-round stoppage defeat to the undefeated Regie Suganob.
Sy was dominated by Suganob from the opening round until the match was halted in the third round in favor of the latter. Sy now has 6a -6-1, 3 KOs record. Suganob improved to 6-0-0 while notching his second-stoppage wins./PN
