Villanueva loses title bid vs P. Rican

The dry spell continues. Filipino Arthur Villanueva dropped a 10-round technical decision to McJoe Arroyo of Puerto Rico in their battle for the vacant International Boxing Federation (IBF) super-flyweight title Saturday night (Sunday in Manila) in El Paso, Texas.

Referee Rafael Ramos called a halt to the scheduled 12-rounder on the advice of the ringside physician after examining a hideous cut on Villanueva’s right eyebrow.

The cut was opened in the sixth round after an accidental clash of heads and Villanueva’s woes deepened shortly after when the third man on the ring slapped him with a onepoint deduction for leading with his head.

While Arroyo, 29, landed the cleaner shots, Villanueva, 26, was the aggressor in the duel of undefeated fighters.

Ringside commentators criticized the officiating by the referee and the three judges, saying the scores did not reflect what truly happened in the ring.

Two of the three judges scored it 98-91 for Arroyo, while the third had it 97-92.

The defeat left the Philippines wallowing in world title challenges with light-fly Donnie Nietes the only reigning world champion. Nietes recently defended his title for the seventh time in Cebu.

The only bright hope so far is Nonito Donaire, who propelled himself into the thick of things with a smashing win in Macau Saturday night.

Showing he was back to his very best, Donaire scored a sensational second-round stoppage of France’s Anthony Settoul on Saturday.

Donaire improved his record to 35 wins and three defeats (23 KOs) and is now in line for another world title crack, probably for the WBA super bantamweight belt against Britain’s Scott Quigg in Dubai later this year.