“Thunderbolt” Villanueva stakes WBO Oriental Featherweight title against Eric Macas

World Boxing Organization (WBO) Oriental Featherweight Champion Lorenzo "Thunderbolt" Villanueva puts his title at stake to settle an old score with Eric Macas at the M’lang municipal plaza on Sunday, February 14.

In a non-title fight scheduled for 10 rounds in Ozamis City on May 23, 2009, the 24-year old Villanueva battered Macas from the opening of round 1 hurting the Lanao del Norte fighter several times and succeeding in inflicting a cut over his right eye which the referee declared was caused by a legitimate blow.

Fight officials however declared Macas winner by technical decision after stopping the fight in the 5th due to a cut below his right eye which Referee Delbert Pelegrino ruled as a result of a headbutt.

North Cotabato Vice Gov. Manny Piñol who owns Braveheart Boxing Club contested the ruling before the Games and Amusements Board presenting a video recording of the fight which showed that the cut was a result of three powerful punches connected by Villanueva.

The GAB declared the fight a “No-Decision.”

Villanueva went on to wrestle the WBO Oriental 126-lb. title from former Asian Games gold medallist Eric Canoy on July 4, 2009 at the Midsayap municipal gymnasium, scoring three knockdowns before finally stopping the ageing champion in the 10th round.

In the supporting main event, WBO Oriental Mini Flyweight Champion Romel “Little Assassin” Asenjo, also of Braveheart Boxing Club, defends his title against Jetli Purisima.

Purisima, who lost to Asenjo via majority decision when they battled at the Midsayap Municipal Gymnasium on June 21, 2008, hopes not only to get even with the Braveheart boxer but to wrestle his title as well.

Other bouts in the Valentine’s Day boxing event sponsored by North Cotabato 2nd District Representative Jun Piñol will feature Braveheart boxers Reynaldo Belandres against Jaime Barcelona, Jermie Jabel versus Rosel Alim, Glenn Porras who faces Renan Branzuela, Gary Lumacad who will battle Rowel Garcia, and Phil Francis Abanilla who will fight Renante Suncasa.