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MIDSAYAP, North Cotabato--All roads lead to this town tomorrow when the undefeated reigning WBO Oriental featherweight king Eric Canoy of the Blue Stallion Promotion defends his title against unbeaten Lorenzo ?Thunderbolt? Villanueva of Braveheart Boxing Club at the town gymnasium here.
Canoy, a protege of Cong. Erbie Fabian of Zamboanga City, will be making the second defense of the WBO title he won on Feb. 3 last year with a 9th round TKO of Indonesian Rajabu Maoja. His first defense of the title on July 27 also last year against Thailand's Terdsak Jandaeng ended in a technical draw in the 4th round.
The battle of these two unbeaten fighters is expected to be a see-saw affair, said WBO Asia Pacific chairman Leon Panoncillo, who is in town to personally supervise this highly-anticipated event.
?I have prepared long and hard for this fight at the IPI Gym in Cebu,? said Canoy who was with trainer Jovanie ?Dondon? Sultan.
To prepare for the fight, Canoy sparred with the likes of Weng Haya, Elf Gitgano, Boy Balamban, a certain Jason and a fighter from the Wakee Salud gym.
The 5'7 Villanueva, who hails from this town, is also charged up for his first crack at a prestigious title, said his trainer Noli Pinol.
?We don't have any problem with endurance. We have worked hard on his defense through good offense. He punches from the outside, so his defense was a bit suspect. But he's working on it really well,? said Pinol.
Villanueva is undefeated in 15 fights with 14 KOs and a ?No Decision? bout against Eric Macas on May 23 in Ozamis City. Macas was initially declared winner by technical decision after the fight was stopped after he suffered a cut in the 5th but this was reversed by the Games and Amusements Board which ruled that the cut was a result of punches and not a headbutt.
The 23-year-old Villanueva, described by his manager, North Cotabato Vice Gov. Manny Pinol as ?raw and young? is a relentless fighter inside the ring who throws all caution to the wind and loves to exchange powerful punches with his opponents.
