Undefeated Featherweight Dreams of Training With Freddie Roach

Featherweight Lorenzo "Thunderbolt" Villanueva, the 23-year-old power puncher from Midsayap, North Cotabato who holds a spectacular and immaculate fight record of 18 wins with 17 KOs, has one dream as a boxer - to train under Hall of Fame boxing coach Freddie Roach.

"I have learned a lot from my trainers, especially coach Noli Pinol, but I believe that coach Freddie Roach will be able to transform me into a better fighter like what he did to Manny Pacquiao," said Villanueva, a shy boy who turned to boxing at an early age when he lost his father and his mother could no longer send him to school.

Villanueva, who is currently the WBO Oriental featherweight champion, is tall at 5' 7" and a tremendous puncher, is described by his manager, North Cotabato Vice Governor Manny Pinol, as an awkward fighter who needs fine-tuning from celebrated trainer Freddie Roach.

"I have seen how Freddie was able to transform Manny Pacquiao from a one-handed and one-dimensional fighter to become the greatest fighter of all time. I believe he can do this with Lorenzo Villanueva," said Vice Gov. Pinol.

Pinol said he has asked Billy Keane, who serves as Gerry Penalosa's manager, to help in convincing Freddie Roach to give Villanueva a chance to train under him.

"You don't find boxers like Lorenzo everyday. The boy has a heart as large as a battleship, he has the power and most of all the discipline. It's a pity if we don't get him the best training that he needs to realize his full potentials as a fighter," said Pinol.

He said there is no problem with the current training staff handling Villanueva, inluding Braveheart chief trainer Noli PInol, as all of them are believers of Freddie Roach's training program and style.

Villanueva, a southpaw like Manny Pacquiao, is currently training for a July 24 fight in a promotion to be staged by former world bantamweight champion Gerry Penalosa in Manila.

Three other Braveheart boxers -- bantamweights Jundy "Pretty Boy" Maraon, Rolando "Smooth Operator" Magbanua and Glenn "The Rock" Porras -- are also expected to see action in the July 24 fight card.

Villanueva said that training under Freddie Roach would be the realization of a long cherished dream which he believes could open up the doors of opportunities for him in boxing.

"I hope he gives me a chance to prove my worth as a boxer," Villanueva said.

Billy Keane who now represents the Braveheart boxers in the United States said he will do his best to convince Freddie Roach to take a look at the Thunderbolt.