All-Pinoy Tapales vs. Villanueva a possibility for world title fight
An all-Filipino world title fight between current World Boxing Organization (WBO) bantamweight champion Marlon Tapales and Arthur Villanueva is a possibility if both fighters win their fights next month.
A Pinoy vs. Pinoy in a world championship fight is rare, but if ever that's the only way for Arthur Villanueva to reach his dreams of becoming a world champion, then he's willing to do it.
"That's the hard part because I, too, am dreaming of becoming a world champion. So if we both win our fights in April, then we have no choice. Being a Pinoy, I don't want us to fight, but being a boxer, I want to face the best in my division," the 28-year-old Villanueva told SunStar Cebu.
Villanueva is facing former world champion Zolani Tete in a title eliminator for the No. 1 contender spot of the WBO bantamweight belt on April 8 at the Manchester Arena in Manchester, England.
Tapales is defending his WBO bantamweight belt for the first time against Sohei Omori in a rematch on April 23 at the EDION Arena in Osaka, Japan.
The winner of both fights could face each other next.
With just a couple of weeks away from his big fight, Villanueva has been doing very well in train- ing, sparring with interim International Boxing Federation (IBF) light flyweight champion Milan Melindo, Joyjoy Formentera and Kenneth Gentallan
"I'm doing okay. There is no pressure, I'm very relaxed," he said.
Villanueva has won three straight fights since suffering the first defeat of his promising career. He challenged for the vacant IBF super flyweight belt against McJoe Arroyo in 2015 and lost by technical decision.
Villanueva is eager to once again get his chance at another crack at a world title and Tete is in his way.
“To tell you the truth this is a really tough fight. He is very strong and talented. My mindset is that I will give all my best, put on pressure, and most of all my weapon is my will to win. I believe that I have a huge chance of winning this.” ARTHUR VILLANUEVA ON HIS FIGHT VS. ZOLANI TETE