Villanueva: Someone will go down

ARTHUR Villanueva still has a score to settle with Mexican Juan Jimenez after a weird ending to their exhilarating brawl last May.

Their rematch next month will be as exciting as the first one, but this time a clear winner's hand will be raised.

“I feel that this will be a very good fight. I believe that five rounds will be too long. Somebody will go down,” Villanueva told Sun.Star Cebu.

The Villanueva-Jimenez rematch for the World Boxing Organization (WBO) AsiaPacific bantamweight belt is one of the main featured bouts in ALA Promotions' “Philippines vs. Mexico” show at the StubHub Center in Carson, California on Sept. 24.

Their first encounter was a very exciting fight with both boxers exchanging knockdowns. Jimenez dropped Villanueva in the second round with a vicious combination. Villanueva answered back by sending Jimenez to the canvass in the third round with a powerful right.

Both boxers accidentally clashed heads in an exchange in the fourth round that sent Jimenez to the canvass. Referee Dan Nietes, however, thought that it was a punch and counted out Jimenez, giving Villanueva the win.

“I don't think about the first fight, my mind is only focused on this fight alone. I'll be very well prepared for this fight,” said Villanueva, 29-1 with 15 knockouts.

Villanueva has been sparring no other than two-division world champion Donnie Nietes, Kevin Jake Cataraja and Kenneth Gentallan.

“I need to work on my footwork and practice not to lower down my left hand on defense because his overhand is hard to see,” said the 27-year-old former world title challenger. “Our sparring (with Nietes) went well. The only thing I had a hard time against him was landing my jab. I couldn't set up my straight. He is really hard to hit especially if you only have one style.”

Nietes headlines the “Philippines vs. Mexico” event against former world champion and World Boxing Council No. 4 ranked flyweight Edgar Sosa for the vacant WBO Inter-Continental flyweight strap.

Also seeing action in the card is Mark Magsayo, who is slated to defend his WBO International featherweight diadem against a yet-to-determined opponent.

Neites, Villanueva and Magsayo are set to leave for the US on Aug. 20 to continue their training for their fights next month.